Sitewide Sale - Reds

Winemaker Description

Features a tempting nose with hints of violet, ripe cherry and warm baking spices. The palate is supple in texture with luxurious layers of brambly red fruits, cocoa, and dusty tannins. This classic Napa Valley Merlot finishes long and vibrant with lingering notes of graphite. 

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator 90 Points: Leads with a light cedar edge, followed quickly by relatively open-knit red currant and damson plum fruit flavors. Shows a light savory edge on the finish. (2019). 

Wine Advocate 90 Points: The winery's largest bottling, approximately 38,000 cases, is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. Primarily from the Hardester Ranch in Pope Valley, with other major contributions from St. Helena, Soda Canyon and Glass Mountain, it's a medium to full-bodied effort, with bold flavors of cherries, cassis and cedar. It's easy, but not soft, nicely firm, with a long, silky-textured finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points The appellation 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is another winner. Ripe red and black fruits, dried flowers, and spice all define the bouquet, and it’s upf-ront, soft, balanced, and just delicious. Drink bottles over the coming decade. 

Winemaker Description

One of the most coveted brands in the Rhône Valley, Maison Ferraton offers us this fabulous cuvée at entry-level prices! At the blind tasting, among many others of its Denomination of Origin, this wine surprised all our experts with its irresistible value for money! 

Its tannins and fruitiness make it a cuvée to be discovered immediately!

The domain is mentioned in the Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France 2021 (RVF) and rated 3 stars in the Guide Bettane et Desseauve 2021.

Winemaker Description

Bodegas Olarra is located on the outskirts of Logroño, right in the heart of the DOC Rioja and within the prestigious Rioja Alta sub-district. Tempranillo dominates this complex and balanced red. With aromas of dusty dark cherry, blood orange, and cedar, it has great structure, a medium body, soft mouthfeel and a lingering, satisfying finish. 

Expert Rating 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Deep ruby in the glass, this wine has a bouquet of black currant and blackberry with a touch of green bell pepper. Flavors of cassis, Chambord, bittersweet chocolate, clove and roasted fennel bulb are set into a web of velvet tannins that dissolve into a drawn out finish with note of orange zest. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

This wine is a deep red with a bright magenta hue. Vibrant aromatics of red and black berry fruits, a lift of violet florals, clove spice and mixed garden herbs. The palate is dominated by a lively burst of berry fruits, which are well framed by fine, powdery tannins. Juicy plum and blackberry flavors persist through the finish, with sweet spice to close.

As the wine ages over the decades, these young characters become more complex to create a symphony of flavours on the palate, supported by the further refined tannins of its youth.

Expert Review

92 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine | Peter Barry makes this wine with fruit from his family’s Lodge Hill Vineyard, in the hills three miles east of the township of Clare. It’s a shiraz with vibrant flavors of red and black raspberries, showing off the cool side of Clare in 2017. Fresh and bright, opening to graceful intensity, this is ready to take on crisp-edged grilled pork.

Winemaker Description

Rina Russa genuinely has its own unique style, as the Frappato grapes come from ancient clones developed on our own estate. It has a very beautiful light cherry colour, with a fresh and vibrant bouquet, reminiscent of wild strawberries and a beautifully balanced palate, with silky smooth fruit, a real freshness running through it and a surprisingly long finish. 

Experts Reviews

Tamlyn Currin writes:  Pale red. Tastes like a glass of summer – fresh strawberries and raspberries, ripe and sweet despite the racy acidity and gentle borage leafiness. The transparent tannins taste of cinnamon. The perfect red wine for tuna Niçoise or fish with caponata (or, quite frankly, quayside fish and chips laced with (good) tomato ketchup and chip-shop vinegar!). I love this little red wine which always reminds me of an under-tens girls' soccer team – full of energy and life and enthusiasm, fierce, determined, willing to dive right in and get grass-stained and muddy, but kind; not aggressive. Drinking 2023 to 2025.  Very Good Value.   - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Amy Wislocki writes:  Made by acclaimed consultant winemaker Stefano Chioccioli, and new on the shelves at Waitrose, this is textbook Frappato, delicate, bright and fresh. Bright cherry red in colour, this is summer pudding in a glass, with aromas and a mouthwatering purity of crushed wild strawberries, raspberries and pomegranate. It’s lean and elegant and a perfect summer red. Try it served ever so slightly chilled, with grilled tuna.  - Decanter 92

Winemaker Descripption

Classic Barbaresco color with scents of spices, pepper and black cherries. Powerful, firm, elegant and ethereal.

Pair with fresh pasta, meat dishes, particularly lamb and feathered game and mild cheeses.

Expert Reviews 

Monica Lerner writes:  The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.  Drinking 2025 to 2045.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Barbaresco is a lovely, harmonious wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Forward fruit and soft curves are perhaps a bit uncharacteristic for young Barbaresco but that also make the wine very enjoyable. Juicy red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, spice, cedar, mint and tobacco all meld together in the glass. Classicists will probably prefer other vintages, but it's hard not to like the 2020 for its charming, effusive personality. At the same time, aeration brings out greater aromatic presence and a good deal of structure, too.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous 92

Aldo Fiordelli writes:  Still vinous, with youthful strawberry notes, rosebud, violet, liquorice and a whiff of cinnamon. Savoury and floral on the palate which is dominated by firm, crisp, long acidity and velvety ripe tannins of an amazing quality; perhaps just a bit stern on the aftertaste. Amazing Barbaresco. Here we have the cooperative of Barbaresco and one known as producing some of the best-priced quality wines in all of Langhe. This will not be released before October 2023.  Drinking 2023 to 2040.  - Decanter 94

Audrey Frick writes:  Ripe red in color, the 2020 Barbaresco boasts a nice balance of purity and ripeness, with lifted spice notes of dried cherries, peppercorn, pine, and anise. An impressive Barbaresco, it’s medium-bodied and offer sanguine richness and yet has a weightless feel. It’s propelled forward through the palate, with bright orange peel notes, vibrant acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish. It has more richness in this vintage as well as having a lot of finesse and elegance to offer. It’s an exceptional entry Barbaresco.  Drinking 2026 to 2040.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Jancis Robinson writes:  Rich, sweet nose. Very slightly animal and soft tannins. Juicy!  Drinking 2023 to 2031.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5 

Winemaker Description

Honig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers bright blackberry, red plum, and raspberry fruit with notes of cranberry, black tea, spice, and coriander seed. Luscious and balanced, with toasty oak and a long finish.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 93 Points | Attractive dark-fruited character here offering ripe blackcurrants, dark cherries and dark spices with bark and walnut undertones. Full-bodied, polished and chalky with tight-grained tannins and succulent dark berries underneath. Long and mineral finish. (2021). 

Robert Parker 91 Points | There are 15,000 cases of Honig's affordably priced 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. While it may not make you see stars, it's a solid value play (for Napa Valley), matching mixed cherries with mocha and cedar shadings and some loamy notes. It's medium to full-bodied, nicely weighted and textured, with a silky finish. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

This juicy red is 100% Gamay from a 9 hectare plot of 60 year-old vines planted on granitic soil. No sulphur is used in the cellar and after bottling the wine is left to rest for 2 months before release. Fresh and fruity with low tannins, this makes for great accompaniment to fish dishes. 

A bright crimson-purple in colour. Aromas of red cherries, cassis and strawberries mixed in with pleasantly earthy notes. Juicy and light on the palate with notes of summer red fruit flavours and silky tannins leading to a refreshing finish.

Try chilled with roasted cod, coq au vin or prawn dumplings with a sweet chilli sauce.

Grapes are hand-harvested and meticulously sorted. Semi-carbonic maceration without SO2, for 4-6 days 2 months in “cuve”.

Almost all the grapes for this cuvée come from within the Morgon cru, but the wine is not entitled to the Morgon appellation because yields surpass the accepted limit of 56 hl/ha. This is intentional: the high yields prevent excessive concentration and yield an easy-drinking, fruit-driven red with low alcohol.   

Winemaker Description

Medium bodied right bank Bordeaux with heavy tannins and a dry finish. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry, black cherry and raspberry are balanced with oak, earth, bramble and graphite notes. 

Winemaker Description

Our Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of cherries, berries, cedar, brown sugar, and toast. Flavors of berries, toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker follow with a toasty caramel finish.

This medium-bodied wine pairs deliciously with grilled meats and tomato-based pasta dishes.

Winemaker Description

Bright and deep red color with purple tones. Aromas of black fruit reminiscent of fresh plum mixed with blueberries and a hint of flowers. On the palate the wine is balanced, medium-bodied with a good fresh acidity.Expert Rating

Expert Rating

James Suckling 92 Points | Made from 100% Valle de Uco grapes, this affordable wine offers generous, spicy flavors and a slightly chewy texture of moderate tannins. The aromas are packed with cumin, black pepper and coriander and the flavors reveal blackberries, thyme and violets. Balanced, fun and and easy to drink now. (2022). 

Winemaker Description

This sweet and fruity wine is bursting with the essence of fresh Concord grapes. The crisp acidity balances the sweetness and up-front fruit aromas.

Critics Notes

Wine Spectator 91 points Medium- to full-bodied, fresh and balanced, this has an earthy hint on the nose that underscores the palate's ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, crushed eucalyptus and mocha flavors, with sculpted tannins firming the finish. Drink nowJames Suckling 91 points Blackberries, cloves, bark and dried thyme. Full-bodied with tight and chewy tannins. Structured, with an elegant finish. Better give it a year or two to allow it to settle more. Drink from 2024. 

Winemaker Description

Made with a special selection of Sangiovese, the 2020 Fontalloro is generous and rich, and the wine sports medium-dark color and concentration. The winemaking team has succeeded in bringing out an especially elegant side to this vintage. The wine offers pronounced notes of cherry and wild plum with delicate spice at the back. Like the other wines in this portfolio, there is a pretty mineral note that makes for a consistent through-line in all these new releases.

Expert Ratings

Robert Parker 96 Points | Made with a special selection of Sangiovese, the 2020 Fontalloro is generous and rich, and the wine sports medium-dark color and concentration. The winemaking team has succeeded in bringing out an especially elegant side to this vintage. The wine offers pronounced notes of cherry and wild plum with delicate spice at the back. Like the other wines in this portfolio, there is a pretty mineral note that makes for a consistent through-line in all these new releases. (2020). 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | A vibrant red, with fleeting aromas of lavender and wild rosemary mingling with cherry, orange peel, earth, mineral and tobacco flavors. On the elegant side, despite its youthful power, with excellent harmony, refined tannins and a long, complex aftertaste. Sangiovese. Best from 2026 through 2045. 3,800 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. (2020). 

James Suckling 95 Points | Very refined and complex nose with a hint of pine cones, botanicals and dark mushrooms to the zesty oranges, mineral, fine musk and plums. Juicy, dry but textured on the palate with stacks of dusty tannins growing on the savory, full-bodied palate. Long and quite mineral in the finish. Better from 2025. (2020). 

Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 Fontalloro is a sensual, enveloping wine. Dark red-toned fruit, sweet spice, tobacco, cedar and mint are all beautifully delineated. Fontalloro is a pure Sangiovese from vineyards that straddle the Chianti Classico and Colli Senesi appellations. The duality is very much on display here.

Winemaker Description

The Indian Wells Cabernet is our warm climate ripe, jammy ‘New World’ style of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine offers dark fruit aromas and flavors. Syrah contributes richness and concentration to the wine.

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator 93 points | A solid, slightly burly version, featuring streaks of tar and bay leaf mixed with dark plum and black currant preserve flavors. The finish is underscored by a warm paving stone note, which adds cut, drive and a hint of old school. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. (2019). 

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points |  From a reliable estate, this wine is firm in feel. It also has open black fruits that pair alongside the generous tannins. It is good long-term aging. Barrel Sample: 93-95Wine Advocate 92 points Deep purple-black in color, the 2019 Meyney strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of cassis, warm plums and baked blackberries plus hints of cedar chest, bay leaves, pencil lead and clove oil plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate has a generous core of ripe black fruits with a slight touch of oak poking through and a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with impressive length. (2019).

Decanter 93 points | One of the wines I use as a marker of how good the vintage is in St Estèphe, because it isn't classified but is in a brilliant location right next door to Montrose. And this is good, extremely concentrated, pure cassis and bilberry flavours, tons of tannins, clear austerity and fairly high acidity as I am getting in a lot of these 2019s. Not the same luscious character as 2018, but in many ways that makes it more typical of the appellation, and the alcohol seems less over the top than in 2018. Lots to enjoy here, not quite up to 2016 standard but not far. Tasted two weeks apart, and if anything its expression had deepened second time around.  Barrel Sample: 93Jeb Dunnuck 94 points This estate has been on a roll of late, and the 2019 Château Meyney is a terrific wine. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, dried flowers, and dried tobacco all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Count me impressed. Not a powerhouse, it should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also evolve for 20 years or more. Range: 92-94 Points. (2019).

James Suckling 92 Points |  Aromas of ripe berries, licorice and chocolate with a touch of mushroom and some dustiness. Silky, polished texture with medium body and firm tannins. Holds long and even, with a lingering sensation of crushed stones. Hold for a couple of years. Second wine of Meyney. Best after 2023.Vinous 95 points The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.  —  Neal Martin. (2019).

Expert Reviews

James Suckling writes:  The intense black-cherry nose of this exuberant blaufrankisch red makes a bold statement. On the medium-bodied, well-structured palate it has plenty of savory and mineral depth, the fine tannins building at the warm yet crisp finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 92

Stephan Brook writes:  Walter Glatzer is one of the grand old men of Carnuntum and has been producing fine red wines for over three decades. This organic wine comes from the loess-rich site of Haidacker. The nose is juicy and stylish, with black-cherry aromas. Svelte and concentrated, i29.t's distinctly oaky, but has depth, power, and spiciness. Long.  Drinking 2022 - 2030  - Decanter 90

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | Chalk Hill is one of California’s up and coming places for top notch Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2021 Balverne Be Forever Wild is flavorful proof. The wine sports a terrific bouquet, with  aromas of blackberry, purple plums, crème de cassis, licorice and violets that swirl from the glass with notes of cedar, tobacco, mint and cloves. Richly textured in the mouth with luxurious velvety tannins that give shape and structure to the fruit and carry long into the finish. Solidly built and immensely delicious. A great wine for hearty meals or simply for casual sipping with good cheese plates.

- Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer

 DECANTER MAGAZINE 91 Points | Jonathan Cristaldi writes:  Bursting with a lovely, classic Cabernet nose of blackberry fruit, tobacco spices, graphite and sweet cedar as more of the same emerge on the medium-bodied palate and capsicum notes capped off by slivers of dark chocolate. It’s a lovely easy-drinking Cabernet with the kind of grip you’d expect from fruit grown in the Chalk Hill AVA. Founded in 1992 by Bob and Renée Stein, Notre Vue Estate produces Notre Vue and Balverne wines from its estate vineyards. The winemaker is Alex Holman.  

Winemaker Description

100% Tempranillo. Organic, Estate grown. Juicy, easy drinking wine with black currant and plum flavors.

Winemaker Description

J.K. Carriere Vespidae Pinot Noir is garnet in color. The nose is super effusive cherry, hibiscus, grilled meat, tan spice and cracked pepper. The flavors are massive and present as a cherry and peach pie with a one-minute too brown crust. The structure is quietly lurking, but unobtrusive. 

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of sour cherries, plums, violets, cocoa, incense and baking spices. Medium-bodied with plush tannins and bright acidity. Fresh, textured and juicy with a bitter cocoa character. Flavorful finish with excellent length. Drink or hold.

Vinous 92 Points | Brilliant red. Ripe red fruit, floral and baking spice qualities on the nose, along with hints of sandalwood and musky herbs. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering subtly sweet cherry cola and raspberry flavors that firm up through the back half. Shows fine clarity and energy on a persistent finish shaped by smooth, even tannins. 20% new French oak. Best after 2022. 

Expert Ratings

Wine Enthusiast 96 Points |  Barrel Sample. This wine is poised between great ripeness and a mineral, textured character, while also showing a robust tannic structure. Its richness is tempered by the freshness of the vintage. There is plenty of long-term aging potential in this wine that continues the great improvements at the estate. (2019).

James Suckling 95 Points | Wonderful aromas of dried orange, blackcurrant and crushed stone follow through to a full body with beautifully polished tannins that are composed and fine. Lots of subtle and complex character on the finish. Extremely well done here. Drink after 2025. (2019) 

Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is impeccable. Creamy, layered and resonant in the glass, the 2019 hits all the right notes. Sweet red cherry/plum, lavender, rose petal, spice, mint and blood orange all build effortlessly. Over the last handful of years Prieuré-Lichine has been the single most under the radar wine in Margaux. The 2019 is another fine edition. Class, polish and sensuality make Prieuré-Lichine absolutely irresistible. (2019). 

Decanter 93 Points | Minerality on the nose, wet stone, graphite and liquorice. This is tasty, with a creaminess to the fruit that some of the others don't have. It feels round with fine but grippy tannins that see the wine through. It's clearly powerful and concentrated but wrapped up well delivering freshness and intensity. Cool blue fruit flavours and menthol notes dominate. Will be absolutely delicious in time. (2019). 

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Readers looking for a complex, nuanced Margaux should check out the 2019 Château Prieuré-Lichine. Giving up a beautiful floral bouquet that includes red and blue fruits, sappy herbs, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth and sweet tannins, and a great finish. This complex, layered Margaux needs just 2-4 years of bottle age and should see its 20th birthday in fine form. (2019). 

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is supple and generous, bursting with aromas of blackberries, currants, licorice, spices and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it's round and enveloping, with ripe acids and a rich, seamless profile. This is showing well out of the gates. This heavily morcellated estate (amounting to some 125 different parcels) is clearly benefitting from a more rigorous selection and better attention to detail regarding harvest dates. (2019). 

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Presents lush plum and blackberry preserve flavors that gush through, flanked by a twinge of singed sandalwood to give it form. The finish is dotted by dark licorice, ganache and earth accents. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 18,000 cases made. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

It is a Chianti with a traditional style, energetic and elegant, expressing beautiful complexity and cleanliness in the nose. It is aged for at least 10 months in oak barrels and barriques plus 6 months in the bottle and expresses aromas of ripe red fruit and spicy notes, for an agile, fresh and soft sip.  

Expert Ratings

Monica Larner writes:  The certified organic San Giusto a Rentennano 2020 Chianti Classico is a clever blend of 90% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo from a unique growing site in Gaiole in Chianti. This vintage absolutely stands out thanks to its ample and generous fruit profile, driven by a warm and sunny vintage. This sees steel, cement and oak. The wine travels over the palate with an elegant and velvety texture.  Drinking 2022 - 2030  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

Walter Speller writes:  Lustrous mid ruby. An elegant, fragrant raspberry nose, gorgeous supple and juicy cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate, and with gripping, nutty tannins. Very long and succulent and fragrant. Drinking 2022 - 2028  - Jancis Robinson 17++   95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Certified organic.

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Chianti Classico is super-impressive. It's the sort of wine that needs time to come together, though, so readers should be in no rush. The purity of the fruit is really quite compelling. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, incense and licorice build nicely in a mid-weight Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2023 - 2032   - Vinous 91

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A dense red, with solid tannins and lively acidity supporting expressive cherry, raspberry, iron and earth flavors. Balanced, long and will benefit from food or another year or two of bottle age. Sangiovese and Canaiolo. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Expert Ratings

Eric Guido writes: Brown spice, crushed fall leaves cherry sauce and a lifting hint of fresh mint form a darkly alluring bouquet as the 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Memoira opens in the glass. This washes across the palate with a velvety wave of ripe red and black fruits, underscored by saline minerals and a burst of spiced citrus. Long and potent, the 2015 leaves a web of fine tannins that are surprisingly sweet and round, nicely framing the notes of sour wild berries and dark chocolate that linger. - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes: The candied strawberries and caramelized orange peel draw you in on the nose; then you notice hints of ash and red licorice. The full-bodied palate has quite a serious tannin backbone, and vibrant red fruit lies beneath waiting to be drawn out tightly by a fine acid edge. The finish is quite fruit-forward. Drink now. - James Suckling 92

Winemaker Description

The Austin Hope Cabernet displays a beautiful ruby hue. Enticing aromas of fresh black cherry, burnt sugar and a slight smokiness fill your glass. On the palate, flavors evolve with vanilla foam, ripe dark fruit, roasted coffee & nuances of spice. This full-bodied wine is rounded out with smooth supple tannins that are brightened with a touch of acidity to balance this crowd pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep ruby in color, the 2020 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses aromas of fresh black currants and cherries accompanied by subtle smoky notes and dried spices. On the palate, this lavish powerful wine is layered with juicy blackberry, ripe cherry, vanilla bean and brown butter. It’s full-bodied and rich, balanced by a touch of bright acidity and firm polished tannins. 

Expert Review

The 67 Wine Petit Somm Series® is a project created by our buyer, Oscar Garcia Moncada. The entire lineup offers a meticulously curated collection of high-quality, value-driven wines. The artwork on the labels represents some of the most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks in NYC.

Aromas and flavors of black plum, toasted oak, tobacco, sage, and curry with a slightly chewy, crisp, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body. A spicy, woody Merlot with a nice food-friendly juiciness.

Critic Notes

90 Points | James Suckling writes:  Savory and spicy red with a plush, fruit-forward palate. The nose shows ripe red berry, crushed herb and crushed stone notes, following through to a medium body with a chalky texture and mellow fruit character. Drink now.  

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

This Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with a perfect blend of fruit, acidity and mouth coating tannins. This is the perfect bottle for Brunello lovers.

Pair with steak au poivre, rack of lamb or beef carpaccio.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | There is a more forward personality to the 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva, which pours a slightly darker hue. Aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, and violets emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers more ripe concentration, with black raspberry, tea leaf, cedar, and rosemary. It is elegant yet expressive of the warm vintage, with fine, ripe tannins and ripe fresh fruit through the mid-palate and a great balance between roundness and elegance.

James Suckling 95 Points | Complex and fragrant nose of neroli, currants, sour cherries, sandalwood, cassis and wild herbs. Roasted walnuts, too. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Full of energy and power.

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

Decanter 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This red starts out round, turning more precise and taut as it builds to the finish. Shows cherry, wild herb, soy and loam flavors that ply the supple texture, before the tannins exert their influence and the finish tightens up (a good sign for the future). (2017).

Vinous 90 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger. The vintage has left its mark on the 2017 Riserva, yet cellaring will help relieve its youthful structure.

Winemaker Description

Bright and aromatic with notes of pomegranate, orange zest, bright cherries, and dried herbs. This wine perfectly emphasizes the essence of the Willamette Valley.

Expert Rating

Wine Spectator 91 Points | A powerful red, with savory eucalyptus, tobacco and tomato leaf aromas and flavors offset by cherry and plum notes. Beefy tannins set the stage for a lingering, grainy finish. Best from 2024 through 2033. -- Bruce Sanderson (2018).

Winemaker Description

In the glass it shows intense garnet red reflections. On the nose aromas of small red fruits, strawberries and currants. Then pomegranate and the unmistakable violet scent of good Sangiovese. In the background a touch of vanilla, sweet spices and licorice. The palate is well balanced with hints of ripe cherries and plums, supported by precise and elegant tannins. The body is warm and enveloping with a long and persistent finish. Winemaker Description. 

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Chianti Classico is terrific. Bright and vibrant, with tons of Sangiovese character, the 2021 is everything Chianti Classico should be. Bright red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and tobacco are all nicely amplified in this juicy, wonderfully inviting Chianti Classico. The 2021 is one of the best edition of this wine I have tasted recently.  Drinking 2023 - 2031.  - Vinous 91

Audrey Frick writes:  A youthful ruby/magenta, the 2021 Chianti Classico is pure, ripe, and inviting with aromas of cherry liqueur, candied roses, and fresh sweet Mediterranean herbs. This wine has wonderful transparency and clarity, with refreshing acidity, snappy lift, and ripe, fine tannins, as well as a stony underpinning and a lovely fresh lift of tomato leaf on the finish. A refreshing and lovely wine, it has much to offer if drinking over the next 6-8 years.  Jeb Dunnuck 91

James Suckling writes:  Notes of cooked strawberries, red licorice, blood orange and cedar. Medium body. Bright and racy with crunchy acidity and a flavorful finish.  - James Suckling 92

Winemaker Description

Domaine du Clos du Fief is run by our friend Michel Tête, with his son Sylvain working alongside. This is a rare 4th generation Cru estate in Juliénas and Julie, based at the far Northwest sector of Beaujolais. The history of these great villages dates back more than 2,000 years and trace their names to Julius Caesar. Vines were grown on the high altitude hillsides of Juliénas and Jullié (a granite rich Beaujolais-Villages Cru that mimics its more famous neighbor) in the Gallo-Roman period. Michel took over this history-rich land after studying in Beaune, where he learned many techniques that he now uses on his own wines to great acclaim. Michel harkens his wines back to the classics: low yields, meticulously farmed vineyards, and classic winemaking resulting in serious and mouthwatering examples of terroir driven reds. 

Expert Review 

James Suckling 93 Points | Fresh raspberries, lemon rind, crushed stones and thyme on the nose. It’s sleek and fresh with a medium body and fine, lightly chalky tannins. Fresh minerality throughout, continuing on a subtle yet long finish. Drink or hold. (2022). 

Winemaker Description

Rich with dark cherry, plum and baking spices. The delicious fruit is accompanied by black pepper notes, crushed violet and cassis. The palate has medium tannins, lingering spicy oak flavors with a velvety lush finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 88 Points | Juicy and direct, with plum and blackberry fruit leading the way, while light anise and applewood notes add energy through the finish. Accessible now. Drink now through 2025. 4,200 cases made, 400 cases imported. 

Winemaker Description

Dark red in color with aromas of cherry, cocoa, black olive and toasted hazelnut on the nose. On the palate, mellow tannins with a spicy vanilla and chocolate finish.