Organic + Biodynamic Wine

Winemaker Description 

Castello dei Rampolla d'Alceo is a premium, proprietary blend of Cabernet and Petit Verdot grapes exclusively from the renowned Panzano in Chianti region of Tuscany. This organic and biodynamic red is sure to tantalize your taste buds with its complex bouquet and flavor profile.

Expert Reviews - VIntage 2009

Vinous 96 Points | The 2009 d'Alceo comes across as much more classic in style and structure than the 2008. According to Luca di Napoli, the trick to 2009 was harvesting on the early side. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, plums, mint and licorice all take shape in the glass Over the last few months, the 2009 d'Alceo has softened a bit, releasing expressive, floral aromatics, brighter shades of fruit and striking inner perfume, but it remains quite vibrant in the context of a vintage in which so many wines are quite a bit riper in style. The 2009 is a wonderfully deep, resonant d'Alceo that should offer a wide drinking window starting in a few years. It certainly looks like Rampolla nailed the vintage.  Drinking 2019 - 2039.

Antonio Galloni, 96+ | My absolute favorite wine of 2022 was a bottle of the Castello dei Rampolla 2006 d'Alceo that I had the good fortune to drink at dinner during a work event in Tuscany last year. I remember the wine vividly, and if I were to review it again, it would certainly merit a perfect score. With that profound inspiration in mind, I feel especially optimistic toward this outstanding group of new releases from Maurizia di Napoli and her talented team. This historic estate has farmed according to organic and biodynamic methods since 1994, making it one of the first in Italy to do so. In truth, I have found some inconsistencies along the way over the many years I have reviewed and adored these wines. Such is the magic of artisanal winemaking. But thanks to that memory of that 2006 d'Alceo, I remain in awe of Castello dei Rampolla today. 

Expert Reviews 

Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media - 97 Points "The 2019 Barolo Pira is powerful and deep but also very closed. There's so much energy here but readers will have to be patient as this classically austere young Barolo clearly needs time. Hints of pine menthol licorice and dried herbs appear with some reluctance. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Superb."

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 96 Points "A distinctive white pepper aroma leads off followed by flavors of strawberry sour cherry mint menthol and iron. Despite the lightness and ethereal quality the texture reveals viscosity and intensity. Balanced and complex ending with terrific length. Best from 2027 through 2045."

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins Lead Wine Sommelier at 67Wine.com writes Alain Burguet, was farming organically back in the 1970s, 20 years before Ecocert was created to certify organic agriculture. He recognized the importance of ploughing to generate better soil health and vines, and composted organic matter to rejuvenate the soil rather than using industrial fertilizer. His two sons, Jean-Luc and Eric have now taken it a step farther by introducing Biodynamic viticulture to the vineyards.

Winemaker Description

Planted in 1969, the premier cru Les Rouges du Dessus vineyard sits above the grand cru Echezeaux and is amongst the highest elevation of Vosne-Romanee. The 2019 Les Rouges du Dessus is absolutely stunning with a dazzling array of blue plums and red and black raspberry aromas on the nose, developing savory spice and earthy complexity as it opens up in the glass. Stately and well-structured with magnificent mouth presence and endless complexity that trails off into the long finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Decanter 100 Points | Produced from seriously old vines with an average age of 56 years, DRC’s headline act does not remotely disappoint. Aromatic fireworks of ripe red and black fruits, toast, spice and a note of decadent perfume lead into a complex palate showing pristine flavours of ripe raspberry, dark cherry, spice, cream and minerals that saturate your taste buds. It is lavishly upholstered by sweet, dense filigree tannins and buoyed by fine acidity - the opulent texture and presence of this wine is beyond remarkable. Already, it is open, profoundly expressive and accessible, however its concentration, acidity and structure will carry it through for decades to come. Arguably the ultimate terroir wine, this 2015 is also the epitome of truly great Pinot Noir. Harvested on 10th September with a yield of 22.65hl/ha. Bottled 22nd March 2017. 403 cases produced. Drinking Window 2025 - 2060. 

Winemaker Description

The storied Domain La Romanée-Conti has a history dating back to 1760 when Prince Louis-Francois de Bourbon-Conti first bought the piece of land. It has since been passed between a succession of owners, coming to rest as the biodynamic home to this Romanée-Conti Grand Cru. Grown without pesticides, this silky-smooth pinot noir reveals a bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, rose petals, blood orange, exotic spices and liquorice. 

Expert Review 

Vinous 99 Points | The 2020 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru was picked on 26 and 28 August at 28.7hL/ha. As usual, I leave it for 5-10 minutes to open in the glass, predisposed not to show everything upon first pour. It reveals lovely dark berry fruit, sous-bois, clove and haunting sea spray notes (picture yourself walking along the pebble beach at Whistable and the tang of shucked oyster shell in the salty air). The palate is medium-bodied with very fine and pliant tannins. Harmonious to a tee with a perfect silver bead of acidity, long and languorous, this fans out with ineffable ease on the finish. Stunning. 500 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London.

Expert Reviews 

Wine Advocate: 98 Points | Wafting from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, wilted rose petals, blood orange, exotic spices, licorice and coniferous forest floor, the 2017 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is full-bodied, satiny textured and multidimensional. It's just as powerful as this year's La Tâche but even more elegantly framed by filigree structure, concluding with an intensely sapid and penetratingly fragrant finish. Pristinely balanced, this young Romanée-Conti possesses huge reserves for the long haul despite its deceptively supple youthful appeal, and it will reward extended bottle age.

Decanter: 98 Points | This has gained in weight and intensity since I tasted it from barrel in October 2018, but it’s still innately graceful: a string quartet rather than a full orchestra perhaps. On the nose, aromas of incense, fresh tobacco and forest floor are complemented by sweet spices and stylish new oak. The palate is layered, refined and savoury, gaining in intensity on the tongue and finishing clean, bright and refreshing with the promise of greater things to come. Stunning.

Burghound: 97 Points | Once again there is evident restraint to the almost taciturn but still kaleidoscopically broad-ranging nose of wonderfully pure and fresh and spicy aromas that include plenty of floral influences on the red currant, cherry, sandalwood and rose petal. The silky and equally pure middle weight flavors possess excellent punch and a similar level of minerality on the focused, powerful, linear and impressively persistent finish that slowly fans out as it sits on the palate. In contrast to the flash of the La Tâche, this is Zen-like in its sense of harmony and focus.

Expert Reviews 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A very fresh, floral-laced style, offering a bright beam of cassis and plum gelée laced with flashes of violet, hibiscus and rose petal. Nicely grounded through the finish, with alder and warm earth hints filling in. Approachable, but this has more to show in time. Best from 2023 through 2036. (JM)

Wine Advocate 94 Points | Delicate herbal shadings accent the cassis notes on the nose of Corison's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. It's classic Corison, balanced and concentrated without being showy or weighty, silky in feel, with a long, lingering finish and two decades of ageability. (JC)Decanter 94 points Alluring aromas of dark cassis, graphite, cedar and wild herbs. It has a striking depth with layered flavours and texture, and while restrained now it is incredibly well-built and in need of time in the cellar to fully shine. Reveals subtle hints of fresh black and blue berries, currants and dried herbs tinged with red florals. Finishes with polish, energy and poise. (JC)

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Lots of dark, blackcurrants, cassis, darker chocolate, and hints of violets emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced St. Helena Napa Cabernet Sauvignon offering nicely integrated acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. This quintessential Cathy Corison Cabernet shines on all accounts. It's going to evolve for two decades. (JD)

James Suckling 94 Points | A perfumed nose of blackberries, dark cherries, cedar, cocoa and nutmeg. Violets too. Medium body with fine tannins and bright acidity. Fresh and refined with a bright core of wild fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. (JS)

Vinous 93 Points | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is full of charm. It offers all of the natural intensity of the year, with bright acids that keep the flavors bright. Sweet red cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco and spice all build effortlessly. This open-knit yet classically built Cabernet is likely to offer a wide window of drinkability over the next 15-20 years. As always, Cathy Corison's Napa Valley Cabernet is a blend of three sites in St. Helena. (AG)

Wine & Spirits Magazine 96 Points | The 2019 vintage might be something of an outlier for Cathy Corison, who picked two weeks later than usual, taking advantage of the cool season from summer into fall. This wine is, in fact, an idealized version of her benchland cabernet sauvignon, holding on to the elegance she regularly achieves, while adding a luscious textural beauty that more often comes from bottle age. James Conley of NYC’s Keen’s Chophouse found the aroma suggested a more delicate wine than the density and extract this one carries in its “cabernet grape tannins and intriguing, lifted fruit. If someone said, ‘I love Napa, but show me what I’m missing.’ I’d say, ‘Well, try this.’” Warm and explosive in its energy, this wine carries an imprint of the benchland soils in the play of darkness and light, in the detailed tannins that make you crave another taste. (JG)

Expert Reviews 

Burghound 91 Points Discreet but not invisible wood influence can be found on the ripe aromas of various dark berries prominent earth and violet scents. Somewhat surprisingly in the context of the reported yields the mid-palate is not especially dense though I very much like the beguiling texture that is at once caressing yet powerful before culminating in a precise serious and equally austere if notably longer finale. This is an opulent and refined Clos des Epeneaux. (Drink starting 2030)Vinous

92 Points Vinous | The 2020 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 1er Cru was a blend of two instead of four cuvées this year due to the depleted production. It has a precocious bouquet with black cherries raspberry menthol and blood orange scents that gather momentum in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins taut and fresh lightly spiced with hints of allspice and tangy quince. It displays fine composure towards the finish with impressive length. This is a superb Clos des Epeneaux though will it surpass the 2019? I?m not sure. (Drink between 2026-2050)

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby red. Dry, with generous body, harmoniously balanced and velvety texture. Classic, ripe red-fruit, long finish, rich and very elegant. Spices, violet, plums and intense tar, very typical for the Brunate vineyard.

Expert Reviews 

98 Points James Suckling | The density of ripe fruit is fantastic in this young Brunate with black berry, blueberry, stone and earth character. Very pure. It’s full-bodied yet reserved and focused with a long and intense finish. Very fine tannins. Complex. From organically grown grapes. Vegan.

97 Points Robert Parker | The Vietti 2019 Barolo Brunate shows an earthy, almost autumnal quality that you don't get in the other wines presented by this leading estate. The bouquet opens to dark fruit, peat moss and rusty nail. The wine is long and fine-textured with silky sensations that add softness to the mouthfeel. Hints of baking chocolate or espresso bean appear on the close.

96 Points Wine Spectator | Steeped cherry and raspberry paste are propped up by a ballast of graphite in this tasty red. Tannins are fine. There is a yin/yang here between ripe wild cherry, kirsch and raspberry fruit and notes of eucalyptus, juniper and hay. They fall under the grip of dense, assertive tannins on the finish today, yet there is plenty going on in this seductive red. Excellent refinement and length.textured but build in intensity, making for a well-framed close, flecked with black tea and sandalwood notes. A perfumy, energetic style with nice form.

95 Points Jeb Dunnuck | More structured, the 2019 Barolo Brunate has more depth and richness, possibly because the Brunate has a more southwest exposition. It is ripe with strawberry, spice, and pressed flowers and is more monumental in its gripping ripe tannins, with black tea, black raspberry, and turned soil. This can stand up to more substantial fare at the dinner table. Hold it another couple of years and drink.

95 Points Wine & Spirits | Luca Currado’s Brunate shines in this lighter vintage, its fresh cherry flavors tangy and taut yet offering plenty of juicy appeal. Hints of rose petal and fresh herbs lend a softness that’s balanced by lively acidity and a high note of orange peel. The wine continues to brighten over several days.

Expert Review

Vinous 97 Points: The 2019 Barolo Lazzarito continues a trend seen in recent years in which the focus has been more about finesse than raw power. Intense red fruit, iron, dried herbs, chalk, dried rose petal and white pepper all run through this deep, virile Barolo. The power and intensity of Serralunga really come alive on the heady, explosive finish. Bright saline notes linger on the deep, resonant finish. A Barolo of raw, unbridled power, the Lazzarito demands patience.

Winemaker Description 

To taste Emeric’s brandy is to confront one of the wildest and most potent homemade concoctions in any cellar in the Rosenthal family of growers. According to local tradition, he blends this heady elixir with twice the volume of unfermented grape must—mostly Chardonnay—to create his Macvin du Jura, which throws politeness out the window and offers the imbiber a juicy, flagrant, undeniably delicious version of the recipe.

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). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | The 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts opens in the glass with notes of plums and wild berries mingled with aromas of orange oil, exotic spices, smoked duck and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, layered and muscular, it's finer-boned and less overtly powerful than its 2019 and 2018 predecessors, even if it's still a serious, structured, concentrated wine.

Barrel Sample: 93-95 Burghound 93 Points | This is the first wine to show any appreciable reduction though the whole cluster vinification does peek through the funk. Once again, the bigger-bodied and much more muscular flavors possess a highly attractive texture thanks to the generous dry extract that partially buffers the prominent tannic spine supporting the robust, powerful and gorgeously complex and persistent finish. This is a classic Malconsorts which is very much built to reward longer-term cellaring.

Barrel Sample: 93-95 Decanter 96 Points | A dense, almost creamy, concentrated cassis fruit, adorned with notes of smoke, spice and salt. Focused, with plenty of tannin and extract, this is a wonderful wine. 2020 saw tiny yields from Dujac's 1.55ha in Malconsorts - no more than 10-15 hl/ha. The fruit was partially destemmed and fermented slowly prior to ageing. The wine gets the same 16 months in 70% new casks that the grand crus receive. 

Winemaker Description 

Le Berceau de Fees" by Domaine Aux Moines is a lovely and juicy Chenin Blanc from young vineyards of famous Roche-aux-Moines grand cru. It opens on the nose to clean and straight aromas of fruit, flowers and aromatic herbs, surrounded by sharp saltiness. The sip is fresh and direct, animated by great acid shoulder and long mineral persistence. 

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby red color. Generous nose with aromas of ripe red berry fruit with spicy overtones. Intense on the palate, quite rich though very elegant and well-balanced. The tannins are present, but very well integrated in the fruit structure of the wine. Long aftertaste with good freshness. A wine with extraordinary finesse and balance. Pair with red meats, roasts, and wild game.

Expert Reviews

Vinous 98 Points | The 2019 Barolo Cerequio is a worthy follow up to the stellar 2018. Aromatic and deeply pitched, the 2019 races across the palate with remarkable depth and intensity. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint and cinnamon all open in the glass, but it is the wine's silkiness and suppleness that impresses most. A kick of acids and tannins puts an exclamation point on the finish. This is a gorgeous Cerequio that takes all the finesse this site offers, and then turns up the volume. What a wine.

Robert Parker 97+ Points | Vietti was able to buy a 9,000-square meter piece of Cerequio from Michele Chiarlo, arguably the king of this celebrated cru. And because this is a new addition to the portfolio, the Vietti team is still learning the ropes. For example, there is a fresh minty tone that pops up from the bouquet of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio. "That minty note was a mystery to us," Luca Currado tells me. "But then we understood that its part of Cerequio." This wine shows a firm grip on the palate that does extend out to include some textural softness, but it ultimately remains quite structured. Among the grand cru sites of La Morra, Luca Currado tells me that "Cerequio is the brother and Brunate is the sister." His wife Elena Penna adds, "We've never had two sites so close to one another show such a great difference between them.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | Coming from La Morra, a more fruit-forward tone can be found in the licorice spice and depth of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio, which offers slightly darker fruit, ripe berries, and peppercorn. This was the second vintage produced and is more approachable now for the vintage. It is a joyful wine though it still has ripe structure.

Expert Reviews 

Decanter 92 Points |  The oldest part of this vineyard was planted in 1935 but the average age is 34 years. It's located at 400 metres – Ravera is one of the highest MGAs within the communes of Barolo and Novello, which it straddles. This 2019 is intensely perfumed, with dried fruits soaked in blood orange, strawberry jam and a suggestion of grace. The attack confirms this lightly extracted style, with ripe tannins, still sticky at the moment, and long, refreshing acidity leading to a good finish.

Vinous 100 points | The 2019 Barolo Ravera is the most intensely mineral and saline of the Barolos. Crushed rocks, white pepper, flowers, orange zest, red berry fruit and bright acids all run through this finely sculpted, chiseled Barolo. Readers who enjoy Barolos of energy and tension will adore the Ravera. I have always had a soft spot for this Barolo. The 2019 is another magnificent dimension of Vietti's dark horse, a wine that over the last 10-12 years has routinely challenged for the crown here, and often won!

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

 Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village shows the stem addition slightly more conspicuously than the Chambolle-Village, white pepper and touches of bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, lightly peppered black fruit with notes of tobacco and dark chocolate towards the finish. This gains complexity in the glass. Promising - quintessential Dujac.

Wine Advocate 89-91 Points | Aromas of dark berries, spices, vine smoke, baking chocolate and pine resin introduce the 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village, a medium to full-bodied, supple and charming wine that's bright and perfumed, concluding with a rose-inflected finish.

Allen Meadows 88-91 Points | Here too there is enough reduction to push the fruit to the background. Otherwise, there is a slightly more volume to the attractively textured medium weight flavors that possess both lovely delineation and purity, all wrapped in a lingering and mildly austere finale. This energetic effort could use better depth but that should reasonably develop in time

Winemaker Description 

Sourced from some of the Central Coast’s most acclaimed Pinot Noir vineyards, this wine displays alluring aromas of ripe cherry and juicy red raspberry, with hints of briar patch and caramel. On the palate, the lush berry flavors glide across soft, supple tannins with an undercurrent of bright acidity, adding poise and polish to a long, focused finish. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | A great taste of this iconic estate without breaking the bank, this bottling is light in the glass with aromas of dried cherry, scorched earth and chaparral spice. The palate combines cranberry sauce and toasted sagebrush with an ample tannin profile. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 90 Points | This red shows some depth to the black cherry, black currant, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors. There is a hint of tar, and the firm structure is well-integrated. Drink now through 2032.  — Bruce Sanderson

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This blend opens with ripe aromas that recall blueberry and strawberry jam, followed by notes of spice, chocolate and moist tobacco. The finish is soft and velvety, and it comes with a touch of plush richness. This is complex and balanced.

Decanter 91 Points | Sweet wood nuances lead with cinnamon, clove and a touch of vanilla eventually ceding to wild cherry and wet soil. On the palate, forest berries are laced with chocolate. The fruit is concentrated and plush with ripe, powdery tannins giving effortless support. This is its usual sophisticated and polished self, with lots of juiciness. Yields are a low 30 hL/ha and ageing is in a combination of French oak tonneaux and barriques, 10% new. Give this another year for the wood to integrate.  Drinking 2022 -2027 — Michaela Morris

Jancis Robinson 17.5 Points | Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese.  The grapes were destemmed but not crushed and fermented in stainless steel as well as oak casks where it also went through MLF. Aged in barriques and tonneaux for up to 14 months. Certified vegan and organic.

Walter Speller | Medium to deep crimson. Gorgeous nose of cherry and with the scent of cigar box. Luscious juicy fruit on the palate and silky tannins that make their mark. Beautiful balance and elegant and concentrated at the same time. Amazing length and focus. Drinking 2021 -2028.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2018 Chianti Classico is classy, polished and exceptionally beautiful. Like so many wines in 2018, the Chianti Classico is aromatic and gracious in feel, more finesse than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright Sangiovese fruit. From start to finish, the 2018 is all class.  Drinking 2020 -2033.

Winemaker Description

Considered the pinnacle of Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti produces some of the world’s most revered wines from its tiny vineyards in Vosne-Romanee. Grands-Echezeaux, is a Grand Cru vineyard yielding sublime wines that are among the most highly-sought, seductive and rarest in the world.

The 2020 Grands Échézeaux is full-bodied, ample and fleshy with an abundance of powdery tannins and succulent acids. The luscious palate presents strawberry, cherry, leather, earth, mushroom, mint, a touch of spice, oak, and refreshing minerality.

Expert Review - Vintage 2016 

Neal Martin writes: This delightful 2016 Rully Les Margotes 1er Cru will provide ample drinking pleasure over the next decade. Bright scents of Conference pear and Granny Smith apple on the nose seem to gain intensity with aeration; then, the palate is well balanced with nicely judged acidity. I admire the harmony and precision of this Rully, with just a kiss of lemongrass on the finish. Recommended. Tasted over lunch at Corney & Barrow in London. - Drinking 2022 -2028 - Vinous 90

Winemaker Description

Zesty garnet red. Rich and spicy. Ripe cherry aroma, pleasant for its smoothness.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2010 

Wine Spectator | Elegant, with a supple texture backed by lively acidity, framing sour cherry, cocoa and tobacco flavors. Finishes with tannins and a hint of leather. Best from 2016 through 2026. 3,000 cases made.  –BS

Vinous 91 Points | Claudio Icardi's 2010 Barolo Parej is one of the more accessible wines of the vintage. Rose petal, spice, cinnamon, plum and game notes all flesh out in the glass in an inviting, textured Barolo with good length and plenty of personality. The tension and acidity of the vintage are tempered by the softness of the fruit, but they kick on the finish. This deceptively mid-weight 2010 Barolo could use another few years for the tannins to soften a touch. -- Antonio Galloni 

Winemaker Description

Intense garnet red color. Very classic and traditional with a robust structure and intense tannins. Bouquet takes a little time to show itself with slight hints of yeast. It opens slowly in the glass touch of spice and menthol. In the final, the powerful structure and concentration soften the tannins potential. Pairs well with game, red meats, and cheeses.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Ravera offers dark fruit cherry and blackcurrant enhanced by soft spice. You also get a sun-kissed note of eggplant tomato leaf and ferrous earth. Ravera displays strong lines with good acidity and firm tannic backbone. It closes dry and ages in large oak botte only. This is one of the most eyeballed MGAs sites. Ravera with its open mountain skyline and cool temperatures is seen as one of the best sites in the appellation especially as the climate changes. This vintage produced exactly 10026 bottles.

Vinous 94 Points | Picked on October 9 and 10 the 2020 Barolo Ravera has plenty of Ravera classicism and tension but also feels a bit light in the mid-palate. Ravera is never a huge wine in body but the depth is often there even if expressed in an understated and more linear manner. The 2020 lacks that depth. Red-toned fruit blood orange mint spice and white pepper lend brilliance throughout.

• Winemaker Description

  Mont des Oiseaux is a cuvée produced in small quantities from Clos de l'Arlot's youngest vines, an estate Monopoly. This wine reveals the elegance of a great terroir and emphasizes the delicacy of red fruit. Fresh and tangy, with good cellaring potential, this wine can also be enjoyed in the bloom of youth.

• The Terroir

  This Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru is located inside the Clos de l'Arlot. It comes from the upper part of the Clos with a white limestone soil, and from a plot of young vines located at the bottom of the Clos on marl soil.

• Discover more

  - Ageing in barrels, with 30% of new barrels. Bottling takes place after 15-18 months of ageing.

Winemaker Description

The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru soars from the glass with a captivating and beautifully integrated bouquet of exotic spices, rose petals, raspberries, cherries and blood orange mingled with notions of cinnamon and coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a deep and tightly coiled core that marks it out as the most muscular wine in the cellar, displaying considerable concentration and largely concealed structure. While this is a dramatic young La Tâche, there's evidently plenty held in reserve, too, and it simply has appreciably more presence than any of the other wines that preceded it in this tasting. Winemaker Description.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Jasper Morris 94-96 Points | Darkish purple colour. The nose is too reduced to speak at first, but the red fruit powers on through. The palate has everything it really should, with a level of energy and waves of fruit over and above the delightful Beaux Monts. Just the right acidity to finish. Drink from 2027-2035. 

Tim Atkin 95 Points | This is the smallest cuvée of Malconsorts that Dujac has made from these vines planted in 1995, in 1976 and in the 1960s. It is a bit cranky now with notable reduction and edgy, leafy freshness. However, the structure is marvelous thanks to the tangy acidity and creamy, lush tannins. Whole cluster spice, ripe red cherries and tobacco fill up the long finish. Give this a few years.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2021 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru has a very appealing, well-defined and poised bouquet with slightly leafy red fruit tones and a touch of dried blood in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It's much more "classic" and drier in style than the 2022, yet I appreciate the structure on the finish. This doesn't quite reach the level I expected from barrel, but it will give at least a decade of drinking pleasure. 

Wine Advocate 92-94 Points | Aromas of dark berries, smoked duck, spices and petals preface Dujac's 2021 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine that's structured and compact, standing out as one of the most backward, but also among the most promising, cuvées in the cellar.

Winemaker Description 

This classic Zinfandel exhibits lush, fruit-forward aromas of cherry, raspberry and candied orange with savory undertones of sandalwood and sweet licorice. On the palate, notes of juicy blood orange, plum and ripe fig lead into vivacious tannins on the mid-palate with vibrant acidity. This Zinfandel’s balanced and elegant structure promises a long, graceful aging potential.

Expert Review -  Vintage 2021

Jasper Morris, MW of Inside Burgundy writes 96-98 Points | Fractionally denser in colour than Clos St-Denis with a meatier bouquet, some blood orange as well as the traditional blueberry of this vineyard. A little white pepper comes up. This is brilliantly complete, no feeling of a lighter vintage, with superb grace at the finish. Ripe alpine strawberries. 76% whole bunches. Drink from 2030-2038. 

Christy Canterbury, MW of TimAtkin.com writes 97 Points |  Spicy and smoky on the nose, tangy red currants and raspberries soak into the palate. The tingly acidity makes you sit up straight! The mulberry and açai flavors on the palate are complemented by lively minty lift. Dense and structured, this has mercifully eternal length. This beautifully expresses its structuring terroir and the vivid freshness of the vintage.

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 96 Points | The 2021 Clos-de-la-Roche Grand Cru comes from five lieux-dits. This was slightly more reduced than the Clos Saint-Denis, dark berry fruit, briary; a faint touch of seaweed emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-sculpted tannins, harmonious and tensile, again, discretely building with a transparent, lightly peppered finish that lingers in the mouth. Excellent. Drink: 2026-2050. 

Charles Curtis, MW of Decanter writes 96 Points | This wine is a contender for best in class and one of the very best of the vintage across all appellations. The colour is a fairly deep ruby hue, and the wine displays a lovely ripe plummy fruit with accents of mineral, cigar wrapper and earth on the nose. The texture is initially silky and approachable, but with time one sees that this is a powerful wine with lots of tannin behind that; it is a wine built for ageing. This wine has it all. Drinking Window: 2027-2050. 

John Gilman 95 Points | The 2021 Clos de la Roche from Domaine Dujac is also an outstanding young wine. The beautifully complex nose offers up scents of red and black cherries, plums, chocolate, mustard seed, venison, sweet stem tones, a marvelous base of soil and cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with fine depth at the core, good soil undertow, ripe, buried tannins and a long, impeccably balanced and vibrant finish. Outstanding juice in the making. 2037-2100. 

William Kelley of The Wine Advocate  writes 93-95 Points | More brooding than the Clos Saint-Denis, Dujac's 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries, sweet forest floor and baking spices. Full-bodied, layered and muscular, with impressive concentration and a long, rose-inflected finish, it's another of the range's high-points. 

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 92-95 Points | from a 1.95 ha holding in 5 different climats). This is also aromatically quite pretty with markedly floral-suffused aromas of poached plum, black cherry and a touch of green tea. There is both fine volume and energy to the powerful yet highly seductive medium weight plus flavors that culminate in a dusty, firm and youthfully austere finale. This is quite compact yet balanced and it stands a very good chance of being excellent in time. Drink: 2036+. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is no less impressive. Exhibiting aromas of plums, red berries and cassis mingled with orange rind, cinnamon, vanilla pod and spices, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, lively acids and a long, rose-inflected finish.

Barrel Sample: 95-97 Burghound 94 Points | This is aromatically similar to the Clos St. Denis but even more floral. Here too there is a wonderfully attractive mouthfeel on the powerful, muscular and dense broad-shouldered flavors that are also blessed with an abundance of dry extract that buffers the massively persistent finale. This terrific effort is a blend of power and refinement and a wine that should age accordingly. A "wow" wine and on the better wines of the vintage.

Barrel Sample: 94-97Decanter 97 Points | Complex and aromatically nuanced, showing well-developed plummy fruit, with accents of earth, leather, smoke and spice. The initial feel on the palate is tannic and concentrated, but the wine is still approachable and supple, with a lovely, long line to the lingering finish. Superb wine. Dujac owns nearly 2ha here, scattered across six parcels and five of the different lieux-dits, including the original Clos de la Roche, Les Froichots, Les Fremières, Monts Luisants and Les Chabiots, giving a balanced view of this grand cru. 

What are we up to? In Decideret we make wild fermented ciders and fruit pét-nats. We use surplus garden apples and organic fruit from the best orchards in Denmark.  We make highly enjoyable vinous ciders with little intervention. At the same time we aim to push the boundaries for what cider can be. It is time for a real cider culture Our ciders are quite vinous, dry but at the same time juicy like a pét-nat.

They can be quite different from what is normally perceived as cider. We are working to prove that a cider can be every bit as quenchy as beer, as complex as wine, as sour as lambic, and as fruitful as freshly pressed juice.  We crush and press apples, ferment juice into cider, and bottle it by hand in small and big bottles – cider can be kept well in both a wine cellar and in a breast pocket. Some ciders are to be drunk young and fresh with a full throttle fruity flavour. Other ciders release their potential when aged in oak or with a long maceration.

Producer Description 

Laurent makes four eaux-de-vie: – two from rare, almost extinct grape varieties: Prunelard and Mauzac Rose – a Pear Williams – a Greengage Each eau-de-vie is made from organic fruits, harvested ripe then dried on mats to concentrate sugars/flavors. The dried fruits are then pealed one by one, cut in half, the pit/seeds/stalk are removed as to keep only the flesh of the ripe fruit. Only then are they crushed into a juice and fermented. On average the wine obtained is about 11% alc./ vol. 

This wine is distilled in a pot still to 66% alc./vol. Laurent bottles each eau-de-vie at 45% alc./vol after reducing the proof slowly by adjunction of demineralized water.

An indigenous grape to the Tarn region of Southwest France, the Laurent Cazottes Goutte de Mauzac Rose Eau-de-vie is one of Laurent Cazottes’ true passions. This is not a fine nor a marc, but the wine and the pomace are left together during the distillation.

Hence, this is an Eau de Vie de Raisin. Laurent Cazottes is committed to reviving these heritage varietals and the resulting spirits are pure expressions of the fruit from which they are made. Biodynamic and organic viticulture are practiced. 

Winemaker Description

The olfactory impact is of considerable aromatic intensity: it expands with notes of small, fully ripe red fruits, accompanied by clear balsamic and Mediterranean hints. In progression, typical mineral notes develop. The gustatory impact is austere, of remarkable freshness and of large volume. It develops in a balanced fusion between the broad minerality and the fine and enveloping tannins. Everything is found in the long final persistence that foreshadows a long life ahead.

Goes well with game, wild boar, roast, braised and stewed red meats, and medium aged cheese.

Expert Rating

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | Next up is the 2020 Grattamacco, which really takes things up a notch. A deep, ruby red, it offers decadent and harmoniously layered armoas of pristine oak spice, fresh leather, mossy earth, tobacco and kirsch. Full-bodied and refined, it has a velvety texture, plush tannins, even acidity, and a long finish. This deamnds to be cellared and will continue to improve if adequately stored over the next two decades and likely beyond. (2020). 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The organic Grattamacco 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese fermented in conical oak vats and aged in barrique for 18 months. The vintage is fruit-driven for sure, and this expression shows nice detailing in terms of the quality and structure of the tannins. The bouquet is focused on grilled cherry and mixed berry. You definitely get a warm, earthy quality with black licorice and sweet Mediterranean tones. (2020).

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | A nose that is luxuriously fruity also has undertones of salt, flint and herbs providing balance. The palate runs wild with fruit but simulaneously offers notes of dark chocolate and a subtle spiciness to keep things lively. Tannins are chalky and resilient, and persistent acidity holds up a long finish. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

The 2017 is brighter and less brooding than typical Kronos vintages in their youth, with luscious, juicy cassis, luxardo cherry, blueberry and raspberry fruit. Signature blackberry pie flavors, complete with baking spices, proclaim a sense of place. Approachable now, the tannins provide a velvet grip. Grace notes include toasted almonds and hints of peppermint. Firm acidity and mineral verve keep it lively. Violets and dried rose petals are already perfuming the aromas. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Focused, with slightly high-toned vanilla and red licorice notes running along the edges of a red currant and plum preserve-filled core. A late flurry of sweet spice, black tea and incense on the finish adds a distinctive edge. Relies on freshness and acidity, more than outright grip. Cellar this for a bit. Best from 2023 through 2034. 

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Tangy in red fruit, tangerine, grapefruit and a hint of iron, this vineyard-designate imparts bold, concentrated intensity within a restrained and balanced package of brightness and verve. From a relatively warm vintage and warm location, it retains nuance, elegance and length, with structure to age. Enjoy this impressively made wine best from 2027–2037 Cellar Selection.

Wine Advocate 95 Points | Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard needs a little coaxing to reveal enticing notes of freshly crushed black cherries, redcurrant jelly and wild blueberries with a undercurrent of cassis, allspice, sandalwood and rose oil plus a touch of garrigue. The medium-bodied palate has a real skip in its step, with delicately played, bright, energetic black and red berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 

James Suckling 96 Points |  Beautiful blueberry and lavender aromas. Violets, too. So perfumed. Medium to full body and very fine, focused tannins. Purity and beauty to the wine. Pretty length. Drinkable now, but much better after 2024.