Red Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Falstaff 92 Points | Dark ruby, purple reflections, opaque core, subtle rim brightening. Fine black forest berry confit, blackberries and liquorice, subtle notes of nougat and orange zest. Juicy, elegant, fresh red cherries, fine, integrated tannins, a chocolate touch on the finish, good ageing potential. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Decanter 95 Points | Dark and heady on the nose, richly fruited and perfumed, smells serious and deep and totally inviting with dark chocolate, coffee and mocha notes with blackcurrant and black cherry and spiced vanilla, tobacco and cedar. Energetic, lively, vivid and bright on the palate but deep too, such a lovely vibrancy laced with liquorice, tobacco and bitter chocolate. Definitely serious but I love the energy, potency and florality. Structured and intense, totally seductive in a heady way yet still lively with a juicy core of strawberry, red cherry and blackcurrant. Feels nicely constructed and considered. A great second wine.

James Suckling 95 Points | Blackcurrants and dark chocolate with rose stems and flowers. Full-bodied with chewy tannins, racy texture and a spicy finish. Polished. 50% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 8% petit verdot. Try after 2028.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | More Cabernet Sauvignon-based in most vintages, the 2020 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is a slight shift and is based on 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. More pure cassis, redcurrants, acacia flowers, violets, and graphite flow to a full-bodied, beautifully textured, concentrated 2020 with enough tannins to warrant 4-5 years of bottle age.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | This wine is firm, its balance of Cabernet Sauvignon giving rich concentration and structure. The wine is dense, offering ripe tannins over the black currant fruits. Drink from 2027. (Cellar Selection).

Winemaker Description 

One of the oldest labels in Italy and the winery’s most important production, testament to the Bianchi family's philosophy regarding Sangiovese.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2019

James Suckling 94 Points | Crushed stones with black cherries and fresh flowers. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a flavorful finish. Still so young and fruity with wonderful energy. Give it another two or three years, if you can bear to wait.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is 90% Sangiovese and the rest Canaiolo and Colorino, raised only in used barrique and large cask. It pours a pure ruby and has floral and herbal aromas of cherry candy, black raspberry, forest herbs, tomato leaf, and dried roses. It is medium to full bodied, with good concentration, fine tannins, and a long, clean finish, and it is savory with dried herbs, oregano, dried cherry, salty earth, and an angular structure.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The Riservas from across the appellation are showing very well in 2019. This wine is no exception. The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (which is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Colorino aged in different-sized oak barrels for up to 18 months) offers pretty richness and concentration. The wine's ample volume is fleshed out with dark fruit, spice and blue flower. It should be fun to try this wine in five years' time, when it loses its baby fat. Happily, production is very generous, with 200,000 bottles made.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is a dark, brooding wine. Black cherry, incense, tobacco, menthol, licorice, scorched earth and savory undertones all take shape in the glass. There's real intensity here, not to mention tons of character. There are many beautiful wines in this range, but for the money, it is pretty hard to beat this Riserva.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | A sleek, tightly wound red, with black cherry and blackberry fruit shaded by iron, herbs and tobacco. Linear in profile and vibrant, with a long, slightly chewy finish. Best from 2024 through 2037.

Winemaker Description 

Plenty of chocolate, tobacco and blackcurrant character on the nose. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and present. Long and intense. This is rather tight and mouth-puckering. Give it time to soften. Very structured. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2025.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Winemaker Description 

This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 94 Points | This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo!

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2020 Sociando-Mallet is very attractive, exhibiting aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with lively acids and powdery tannins, it's a strong effort from a site that always does well in warm vintages. The 2020 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Decanter 92 Points | Wonderfully fragrant on the nose, just stopping short of being potent. Glorious perfumed scents and rich, ripe black fruits. Clean and clear, this has a lively energy to it and a little bit of liquorice which gives a savoury, dark and sticky edge to the fruit. Clarity, classicism and precision on show. Sculpted, muscular, grippy and chewy. Excellent potential with a slate and coffee-toned finish.

Critic Notes

95 Points Wine Enthusiast "Cellar Selection" |  The Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon's smoky leather and cigar make for a formidable entry on the nose before huge, layered tannins rise to the fore. A balance of acidity and brightness lurks beneath the weight, rounded by succulent blackberry and black cherry. Cellar through 2030.

Winemaker Description 

Rewarding with extraordinary depth and poise, the drinking pleasure of 2021 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon begins with notes of royal cassis that fan out on the palate and continue with silky black cherry and refined dark berry fruit framed by bakers’ chocolate, cedar, and toasted sage. A lush, supple midpalate displays firm yet suave tannins balanced by a juicy texture lent by a deft blending of Merlot from the estate’s hillside vineyards. This is both a classic wine and vintage, finishing like it begins, with a flourish of brambly blackberry fruit lifted by accents of violets and bergamot. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Eric Asimov - The New York Times - The Pour October 23, 2024 | Lamole (pronounced LA-mo-lay) is a sub-zone within the commune of Greve-in-Chianti in Chianti Classico, where the high elevation encourages wines of finesse and elegance. This bottle, from Lamole di Lamole, is straight and to the point, a little more concentrated than a Chianti Classico normale and delightful to drink but simpler than some of the better bottles.

Producer Description 

Aromas of blueberry and spicy, forest floor on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with plenty of dark berry fruit, earthy minerality, excellent acidity, and soft, structural tannins. Almost think of this wine like a gamay dressing up as a syrah. 

Cuvée Le Blanc is a single vineyard at 300m planted to guyot-trained chardonnay by Cosima’s parents in 2006. The parcel is south/southwest facing with pierres bleues (blueschist) soils. Her winemaking is as it has been in the region for centuries. Sulfur is not used in the winemaking process, and she adds only a small amount at bottling if needed. Her objective is “to produce terroir wines that are alive, with a soul,” wines that are as natural as possible, but also clean wines, without defects, as she has great respect for her customers. Her chardonnay is mineral and delicious, showing impressive elegance and density.

Producer Description 

Dark, brick red in color, this wine boasts rich aromas of black fruit and spice on the nose. Blackberry and black cherry flavors dominate with a just hint of green pepper. Rich and full flavored, the finish is bold with a touch of oak.

Producer Description 

The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. The nose reveals red berry fruit aromas combined with delicate floral notes of peony and fresh mint. A dense and muscular attack leads into a full-bodied mid-palate whose juicy and expressive substance is underlined by well-rounded, silky tannins. The long and balanced finish lingers on notes of spice, especially white pepper.

Expert Reviews - 2021 Vintage

James Suckling 95 Points | This is surprisingly full-bodied and round, reflecting the warmth and sunny exposure of the vineyard around the chateau. Tangy and vivid with currants, fresh flowers and plenty of energy and length. Delicate yet ripe. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 19.5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 0.5% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to come together completely. Drink after 2027.

Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points | The second wine of this great estate, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new barrels. It has plenty of class and charm, with pure Cabernet notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco, and damp earth. These carry to a medium-bodied, balanced, elegant, seamless wine with fine tannins, integrated oak, and a great finish.

Vinous 90-92 Points |  Representing 40% of the total volume, a little more than usual, the 2021 Le Petit-Mouton, is aged in 50% new oak. A very Cabernet nose with conspicuous graphite scents infusing the black fruit, a little Earl Grey in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, not amazingly complex but well balanced with fine tannins and just a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Classic in style, it should give 15-20 years of drinking pleasure.

Decanter 92 Points | Beautifully fragrant strawberries and red cherries, just so perfumed and appealing, really a very lovely nose drawing you in. An excellent Petit Mouton in 2021; serious intensity here but also such a liveliness as well as creaminess. It has weight and layers while having fruit intensity and a core of aromatics. There's a softness and delicacy in terms of the tannins and frame - beguiling - but a real base of concentrated blue, red and black fruits - strawberries, red cherries and blackcurrants. You get the stony tones and the clove on the finish but this feels round, expansive and approachable. It's uber glamorous, still with freshness and lift. A gorgeous wine with lots going on! 0.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.73pH. 14% press wine.

Wine Advocate 89-91 Points | Since Mouton-Rothschild itself this year derives exclusively from the two plateaus that always make up the core of the blend, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton benefits from the inclusion of parcels that often make it into the grand vin. Exhibiting aromas of crème de cassis, mint, cigar wrapper, violets and espresso roast, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a rich core of fruit, powdery tannins, succulent acids and a persistent finish. Characterful and beautifully made, I wonder if I'm being a little severe with my score?

Expert Reviews - 2021 Vintage

James Suckling 95 Points | The currants, cedar and violets are very bright on the nose, with sandalwood undertones and pencil shavings. This is medium-bodied, beautiful and firm, with finesse and real Lafite character for their second wine. Racy at the end. Drinkable now but even better in three or four years.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | Cherries and ripe black-currants give this second-label wine a generous, open character. It is succulent with rich tannins and pure black-currant acidity. This is sure to age well. Drink from 2028.

Decanter 93 Points | Ripe, dark perfumed blackcurrant and black cherries on the nose. Fragrant but also herbal, liquorice, clove, tobacco and toast. Supple and juicy on the palate, a lovely sense of life and energy to this straight away. Gorgeous texture, full and expansive in the mouth with gently plush and crushed velveted tannins. Feels like a serious wine with a great fresh backbone of lively acidity, ripe fruit and structured tannins. I love the high acidity and sense of explosion you get here. Raspberry, red cherry and blackcurrant - so red and black fruits with tinges and hints of liquorice, cola and mint around the edges. Really nuanced but very approachable. Fun with clarity and precision. Such a clear palate. A lively baby brother.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is gorgeous. Supple, dynamic and lively, the 2021 pulses with energy. It's a wine of vibrancy. Dark cherry fruit, plum, grilled herbs and graphite all build effortlessly in the glass. There's a bit of graininess in the tannin, yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. There's a ton to like, that's for sure.

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is mostly composed of the younger replacement vines dotted throughout Lafite's vineyards on the plateau, which are harvested separately. Offering up aromas of red berries, cassis, cedar box and orange rind, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and layered, with good concentration and a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, part of which was matured in wooden vats rather than barriques.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | The wines of Petra are consistently some of the most hedonistically delicious Tuscan blends. It’s always love at first sip! Rich and velvety with a lovely aromas of earthy blackberries, licorice, baking spice and melted chocolate. In the mouth the flavors expand with expressive complexity, with supple, caressing tannins on the long finish. Pure Tuscan pleasure!

Winemaker Description 

Near the ancient village of Suvereto, home to the majestic oaks that produce cork (sughero) on the ferrous hills of the Val di Cornia, looking out over the Tyrrhenian Sea: it is here, nestled in the spectacular nature of the Maremma region, that the magic of Petra emerges.

Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Cabernet Franc 10% e Sangiovese 15%

Bright ruby red. On nose it reveals fresh aromas of black cherries, violets, blueberries, peonies, mineral hints and nuances of earthy shrub. The taste is fresh and pleasantly fruity, with gentle, well-tailored tannins.

Producer Description 

All Manischewitz Wines are made and bottled under the strict Rabbinical supervision of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. All of our fine products carry the mark of quality that signifies adherence to Orthodox Union guidelines.

This sweet and fruity wine is bursting with the essence of freshly harvested dark Blackberries. The crisp acidity balances the sweetness and up front fruit aromas. Fermentation at 65 degrees in stainless steel tanks allows the wine to maintain the refreshing aroma and spiciness of fresh Blackberries. The natural fruitiness of fresh Blackberries allow this wine to be served chilled as an aperitif. The wine goes wonderfully with roasted meats with fruit sauces or paired with berry based desserts.

Producer Description 

Bursting forth with red berry fruit in abundance briar before leading into a slightly chewy and structured herbal quality. Before you've finished you'll be treated to fennel, roasted sage and a touch of earth. Tannins are there, but so well integrated you hardly notice...

70% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah & Carignane. The now mature "Bambino" vines were planted in 2000 and represent Bucklin's "young vine" Zinfandel. Fermented with indigenous yeast without any nutrient additions. Aged in neutral French oak for approximately 10 months.

Winemaker Description 

An exciting wine! Organically farmed, raised in amphora, 100% Blaufrankisch. Straka is a small family winery embracing a philosophy of pure and natural winemaking at their 84 year old family estate located in the Eisenberg district of Burgenland. 

The Eisenberg is a unique geological area where the foothills of the Alps meet the Pannonian lowlands and is comprised of metamorphic, magmatic rock and cristal schist. One of only 3 places in the world with this soil composition. The deep rooted vines naturally show a distinct mineral character and a compelling purity of fruit. 

Producer Description 

This new red wine blend is produced from Suisun Valley, a remarkable AVA that has become the Wagner family's second home. A 30-minute drive from Napa, Suisun has ideal soils and climate for a variety of grapes. The Walking Fool is named after a long-ago relative who was often seen traveling by foot - thus earning this affectionate moniker. Featuring Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, this wine is smooth and lively, with juicy raspberry, notes of espresso and softly fine tannins.

Winemaker Description 

A soft, elegant and approachable medium-bodied wine with complete, rounded characters.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 94 Points: Blackcurrants, spiced cedar and dark spices with bark undertones. Full-bodied with very fine, velvety tannins. Textured and compact with a firm, lingering finish. Tight at the end. Needs time to open.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points: This powerful, densely packed wine bursts with aromas of late-picked blackberries, blueberries and cassis that give way to bold black fruit and dark-chocolate flavors accented by cloves, black pepper and cedar. The tannins are full and firm, needing several years to mellow for best enjoyment.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points: There should be around 30,000 cases of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted as a final blend, taken from tank, it reveals plenty of cherries, plus a backdrop of darker, riper fruit flavors, like cassis and blueberry. There's the requisite cedar and vanilla, from aging in oak, but it's balanced. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied, silky-velvety smooth and easy to drink, plush without being creamy or overdone, with a long, mint-accented finish.

Wine Spectator 93 Points: A freshly plowed humus note pokes out first, with further coaxing in the glass revealing dense black currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors. On the back end, bittersweet cocoa and espresso crema notes give this a dark, slightly rugged persona, but should smooth out with some brief cellaring. For fans of the toasty style. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points: Coming mostly from the estate (70 acres), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot. Bottled in March of this year, it has a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a pure, ripe, seamless, medium to full-bodied profile as well as ample cassis and darker raspberry-like fruits, classic tobacco, and spicy, chocolaty oak. 

Winemaker Description 

Grapes from our vineyards but also from associated growers. This particular variety covers less than 2% of the Santorini vineyards.

Typical red vinification with skin contact for 7 days. oak Maturation in barrels for 18 months and reductive aging in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. Bottled unfiltered.

Intense red color with bright hues. Red forest fruit aromas, bitter chocolate, tobacco, and minerality. A muscular palate with a tannic character and long aftertaste.  Served at 16-18 ° c with red spicy meats, casseroles, as well as mature full-fat cheese.

Winemaker Description 

Tasting notes
Look:    intense ruby red.
Nose:    ripe cherries and sweet spices.
Palate:  rich, intense cherries and berry fruit; good length and soft tannins.

Food pairing | A wine of rare versatility, suitable for a wide variety of foods and drinking occasions, from aperitifs to serious dinners. Perfect with richly-sauced pasta dishes of the Mediterranean tradition; excellent with grilled and roasted red meats, as well as with the warm spicy flavors of Asian and South American cuisine.

Producer Description 

Fine aromas of matured red fruits, red berries, cassis and toasted notes , sweet spicy nose  with a mineral touch. Pleasant and warm entry in the palate,  shows elegant earthy red fruits with a touch of well integrated oak, round tannins, finishes long and will go improving.

Drinks beautifully now and through 2026, and will gain in complexity and fineness with age. 

Producer Description 

Our Merlot is medium-bodied with deep blackberry aromas and a soft, satisfying finish. Enjoy its smooth flavors with Grilled Pork Chops with Apples or Rosemary-Braised Lamb Shanks.

Producer Description 

Bright ruby red. Clean and complex on the nose, Harmony of fruit with notable hints of fine oak. Well structured on the palate, savory and balanced. The wine shows great character and has a long persistence. Complex retro nasal, elegant with notes of quality wood toasts.

Producer Description 

The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. Elegant and refined, the nose exudes floral aromas, going on with airing to develop notes of blackcurrant and licorice root. The full and smooth attack reveals an alluring and complex array of flavors in which ripe fruit is magnificently set off by notes of toasted cereals and violet. The mid-palate is underpinned by high-quality close-knit and creamy tannins, leading into a saline and slightly minty finish which lingers on hints of chocolates.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 96 Points | Aromas of crushed stone, blackcurrants and blackberries. Full-bodied with extremely well-crafted tannins that are chewy and layered, yet polished and fantastic. Love the finish. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 25% petit verdot, 22% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. (v.2019).

Wine Enthusiast 94-96 Points | Dense and rich, with a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, this is another great vintage from the estate. Its black fruits ooze concentration alongside firm tannins that promise a potential for long aging. The aftertaste has opulent black currant richness. (v.2019). 

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2019 Clerc Milon is a real success. At more than 70%, this blend contains one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the property's recent history, and the result is a wine of real nobility. Offering up aromas of violets, wild berries, licorice, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with notable depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. From clay-limestone soils rather than the sandy gravels that characterize d'Armailhac, this is by some margin the more structured and serious of Mouton-Rothschild's two Pauillac stablemates.(v.2019).

Decanter 95 Points | The wine has the highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1980s, and even on the nose you can feel its impact in terms of the depth of tight black fruit. Extremely good quality with fine tannins that build, build, build over the palate, and grip on, forcing you to slow down and pay attention. Beautiful spice with menthol, slate, pencil lead, blackberry and blackcurrant. An exciting wine with real energy and forward motion, helped to withstand the summer heat by its position by the river, and the fact that the average age of the vines at Clerc Milon is almost 50 years. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Jean Emmanuel Danjoy's last outing doing the full vintage at Clerc Milon before he heads over to Mouton as technical director. (v.2019).

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Presents a very fresh core of cassis, red cherry and damson plum fruit flavors that meld nicely with a racy iron streak, while light savory and floral details run along the edges. A very pure and bright version that should age well. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. (v.2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Another beautiful effort from this team, the 2019 Château Clerc Milon is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, from vines just across the street from Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Mouton Rothschild. Brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, it has a healthy ruby/plum color to go with a great nose of ripe red and black fruits supported by some classic Pauillac lead pencil, tobacco, and spice box notes. I love its overall balance, it's medium-bodied, has silky tannins, and the fresher, elegant style of the vintage. I wouldn't call it mid-weight, but I compared this to the 2014 on release, and I still think that comparison holds, although there's a touch more length and intensity in the 2019. This will drink well today with a decant (I followed this bottle for two days) and will shine for a good two decades.(v.2019).

Producer Description 

The style of the wines being made by Mittas is broadly traditional. Low-intervention farming (the vineyards are now fully converted and licensed as organic) and wine making are the general rule. Tannin management incorporates only periodic—twice daily—manual punchdowns and 500-liter French oak barrels while the fruit, acidity, and alcohol levels are reminiscent of Naoussa wines from 40 years ago. Mittas’s wines reward on release and don’t necessarily need long aging because of their elegant nature.

The grapes for this bottling undergo 15 days of skin contact, with twice-daily pump-overs. The wine is aged for a year in French oak barrels, 25% first use, and then for an additional year in bottle. On the nose, the wine shows red and dark fruit, plum, and spice notes. The wine is medium bodied, and the tannins are well integrated with the fruit. The wine opens beautifully with a bit of time in a decanter. Enjoy it with your favorite lamb dish.

"Oenos Mittas is owned and operated by Yiannis Mittas. Yiannis' family is one of the oldest in the northern Greek region of Naoussa, and while his family has been in the wine industry for generations, Yiannis is the first in his family to make and bottle his own wine. After graduating with a degree agricultural technology, he purchased a 1.8 hectare plot in the famous Paliokalias vineyard — considered one of the best Crus in Naoussa — in 2018. Planted in 1971, Yiannis' Xinomavro vines (average age of 25 years) are planted in soils of clayey-limestone with some sand; the vineyard is in the process of organic conversion. Winemaking is traditional and minimal intervention is used in both the vineyard and the cellar.

The Oenos Mittas Xinomavro is aged for one year in French oak (25% new), followed by one year in bottle. The wine displays a deep ruby red in the glass, offering aromas of dark berry and stone fruits mixed with notes of cedar, licorice and tapenade. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant, exhibiting flavors of red plum, macerated black cherries and blackberry with notes of earth and leather. There is just the right amount of acidity that interplays with this Xinomavro's moderate, yet approachable tannic structure. The finish is pleasing and persistent. This is an ideal pairing for any lamb dishes... from traditional gyros to kebabs, rack of lamb to hearty stews."

Producer Description 

There are two types of red grapes in the world that are always trimmed for finesse and elegance. The much better known is the Pinot Noir from France and then also with its relative, the German Pinot Noir.

Then in the outer tip of Austria - in Styria - there are more and more winemakers who feel a total devotion to their local red wine specialty - Blaufränkisch - and can derive just as much elegance from it as the much more prominent Pinot Noir. Now Gottfried Lamprecht is very fortunate to have the Buchertberg, a vineyard that can show dramatic differences in the soil. And anyone who has ever been to Burgundy in France and has seen the prices of wines that come from particularly fortunate soils - for the winemakers and their wallets - will appreciate Gottfried Lamprecht's wines.

For the connoisseurs it should be briefly mentioned that on the Buchertberg opok soils, partly sandstone weathering, sand and silt change in a very small space and make up the rare great class of this wine.

Producer Description 

Cebreros is both the name of the village and the appellation of origin in the southeast of the province of Ávila, within the greater Sierra de Gredos region, the mountainous area located on the continental divide of Spain. The region is unspoiled, wild, rustic, full of energy and light, and as authentic as it gets. It is a transitional zone where northern Spain gives way to southern Spain. The wines from the Sierra de Gredos mountains to the west of Madrid (aka Vinos de Madrid) have finally begun to claim their rightful place alongside other top wine regions focused on producing world-class garnacha. For many insiders, the region is now leading the conversation about this Mediterranean garnacha grape, now understood to be indigenous to Spain. 

Whole clusters are picked by hand in small boxes, with a strict selection made in the vineyard. The clusters are de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks and large neutral French oak foudres. The wine is then aged for 18 months in new and used 600L French oak barrels sourced from different forests.

Producer Description 

The Pizarra vineyards are found on red metamorphic slate soils, which are unique to the village of Cebreros, folded into the mostly granitic mountain range. This slate soil makes Cebreros unlike any other village within the Sierra de Gredos region. Pizarra soil is located above 950 meters, up to 1200 meters, mainly with an eastern orientation. 

The wines from here have a signature expression: they are always fresh, complex, direct, and profound. Pizarra is a limited production wine produced from over 60-year-old, bush-trained garnacha vines, yielding 15hl/ha from the vineyards of Arrebatacapas, La Redonda, La Curva, Fuente Fabian, and Presidente. The farming at Pegaso is organic, and the wines are made with low intervention and minimal sulfur at bottling.

Producer Description 

Light, transparent red color. Nose is lovely, spicy, full of red berries, with notes of raspberries, strawberries, garrigue and nutmeg. Mouthfeel is lovely, light, elegant, with smooth powder-like tannins, nice acidity and notes of raspberries, strawberries, garrigue and nutmeg, with a long, spicy finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino is surprising in its freshness, considering the warmth of the vintage, and speaks to the cooler, northern-facing exposition of the estate. It is refined with ripe red cherry, raspberry, anise, and incense and is fresh with cherry fruit, warming spices, macchia, and herbes de Provence. It is ripe though it maintains a medium frame, with well-managed tannins and balanced acidity. It is a lovely and charming wine and is rather approachable now. Drink 2024-2040.

Monica Lerner of The Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | A delicately sweet note of fresh summer cherry is a precursor to budding complexity and a very articulate bouquet that opens quickly in the glass. Immediately pleasing fruit is a characteristic of the 2017 growing season that had above average temperatures and drought throughout the summer. The resistant 2017 Brunello di Montalcino takes on these challenges without missing a beat. The wine's celebrated acidity and its small berry nuances remain intact. The tannins are silky and the wine's flavors fade slowly even after you have taken your last sip.

James Suckling 96 Points | Sweet berry, orange peel, cedar, bark and forest flower aromas follow through to a medium to full body, with linear and fine tannins and a crunchy undertone. It’s very subtle and fresh for a 2017. Crisp and vivid. It’s refined and acid-driven. Needs three to four years more to soften. Try after 2026.

Producer Description 

The red grape varieties Garnatxa and Samso from Els Guillamets vineyards are the base for the Siana Terrer 2022.

On the nose it presents an intense and elegant aroma of ripe red fruit and jam, with hints of anise, delicate touches of new oak and mineral notes. Palate: In the mouth is well-rounded, pleasant, lingering and powerful. Long finish which brings out its special spicy character.

Gastronomy: Recommended with any white or red meats (fowl, wild game, stews, roast lamb, beef...),with stewed legumes and cured and blue cheeses.

GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2024
90 POINTS – TIM ATKIN MASTER OF WINE 2024

Expert Reviews

Vinous 93-95 Points | The 2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a quintessential nose for this vineyard, quite flamboyant yet still with that Rousseau sense of control and elegance, a melange of red and black fruit, touches of wet stone and undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry, fine weight and density, veering more towards the red fruit profile with a dash of black pepper on the finish. This was once the weak card in Rousseau's pack. That is the case no longer. Drink 2026-50. Neil Martin.

Wine Advocate 92-94 Points | The 2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet red berries, rose petals, raw coca, warm spices and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it's taut and vibrant, with a more tightly wound, reserved profile than the Mazy-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin. William Kelley.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Zekun Shuai writes:  Profound and intense nose with some tapenade, black beans and cocoa powder that gives depth to the already deep blackberries. Hints of dark spices and cigar box, too. Plenty of palpable tannins evenly melt into full-bodied palate with juicy dark fruit. Brooding and long finish. Cabernet sauvignon, syrah, merlot and petit verdot. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 94

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The 2019 Selección Especial, cropped from a warm and dry year, is composed of 64% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 6% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and has 14.5% alcohol, coming through as riper than the 2020 I tasted next to it. It's also darker, round and powerful, with plenty of tannins, wide and concentrated. This is from a warm year, with lower yields, and it's a very powerful wine, balsamic with notes of aromatic herbs, a little more Mediterranean.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2019 Selección Especial is a blend of 69% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Graciano and 1% Petit Verdot from Abadía Retuerta in Castilla y León and was aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Garnet-red with a purple sheen. Cedar complements plum, camphor and spice aromas on the nose. Dry and fairly fruity, the finely-grained tannins support a mild, polished mouthfeel. The 2019 is a cosmopolitan red.  Drinking 2023 to 2036.  - Vinous 92

Alison Napjus writes:  A rich range of ripe black and red currant, toast, ground coffee, licorice and vanilla notes are well-meshed with lively acidity and supple tannins in this red, which has a dusty feel. A balanced version, showing generosity and accessibility. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Garnacha. Drink now through 2029.   - Wine Spectator 90