Reds

Winemaker Description 

This area bears a name that immediately evokes the main character of the terroir: heat. Rocky outcrops increase temperatures by reflecting the sun's rays during the day and releasing heat at night. The steep slope allows the sun's rays to strike the ground perpendicularly, thus increasing the solar radiation. A good amount of soil allows the Nebbiolo to mature in terms of sugar content, but above all in terms of polyphenols.

Ruby red hue tending to garnet; pronounced, layered nose with top notes of cherry, ripe plum and sweet spice (cinnamon and cloves) and a tinge of sulphur; dry, mineral and austere but harmonious on the palate, with an elegant slightly bitter finish of roasted hazelnut. Serve with roasted red meats, lamb, game, and mature cheeses.

Critic Notes

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2021 Madame De Beaucaillou is a little gem of a wine and has tons to love. Ripe black cherries, spice box, and savory herb notes all define the aromatics, and its medium-bodied, balanced, has terrific ripeness, and a great finish. Drink bottles any time over the coming decade.  Drinking 2024 to 2034.  - Jeb Dunnuck 90

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Madame de Beaucaillou is terrific. Bold and savory, with gorgeous fruit presence, the 2021 turned out beautifully. Crushed flowers, spice, mint and a touch of orange peel all grace this exquisite Haut-Médoc. This is a stellar wine from the Borie family.  Drinking 2025 to 2036.  - Vinous 91

James Suckling writes:  A juicy red with currant, graphite and tobacco character. Medium body. Firm tannins. 71% merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot.  - James Suckling 90-91

Georgina Hindle writes:  Some blackcurrant liqueur touches with perfumed aromatics. Smooth and round, this shows weight on the tongue with richness in terms of the blackcurrant and black cherry flavours. A lovely concentration and persistence with freshness at the end. No hollow mid-palate, really giving a consistency that goes all the way through. A soft chew from the tannins and tangy acidity, but all presented with refinement. Appealing and approachable, but still with intensity.  Drinking 2024 to 2039.  - Decanter 

Jane Anson writes:  Violet-edged, bright berry in colour, clear redcurrant and cassis fruits. It is sappy with clarity to the flavours, leaner than recent years with emphasis on floral notes, ready to drink fairly soon. 20% new oak.  Drinking 2024 to 2034.   -  Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

William Kelley writes:  From 50 hectares of vineyards in Listrac and Cussac, the 2021 Madame de Beaucaillou offers up aromas of dark berries, rich spices and loamy soil, followed by a medium-bodied, lively and charming palate that's underpinned by tangy acids. It's a Merlot-dominant blend complemented by 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot. Around one-third of the production was sold off in bulk to guarantee the quality of the assemblage.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Winemaker Description

From the ever-creative and driven Julien Sunier comes this "anytime red", as he fondly refers to it. Wild Soul, like most of Sunier's fruit, is farmed and harvested at high altitude (400m), resulting in freshness, aromatic vibrancy, a lythe presence on the palate, and endless pleasure. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Winemaker Description 

Deep and dark with lifted seductive aromas of red fruits and spice, powerful ripe red and black fruits wrapped in a structured but lush, elegant frame. Tremendous length and complexity.

Alta Mora is a winery from the Cusumano family where grapes are grown and harvested on the slopes of the active volcano, Mt. Etna, in Sicily. The Alta Mora name represents the great heights of the vineyards on the mountain and the dark, black volcanic soil. Alta Mora Etna Rosso is 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes - indigenous to Sicily and the predominant red grape of Mt. Etna. Many wine enthusiasts compare this wine to a Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir. The deeply colored, thick-skinned grapes contribute rich fruit, firm tannins and vibrant acidity. 

The 2022 Alta Mora is ruby red in color with spicy pepper and black currant aromas with hints of mountain herbs. Vibrant and intense with well-integrated tannins.

Expert Reviews

Eric Guido writes:  The 2021 Rosso di Montalcino opens with a dusty bouquet, blending sweet smoke with mentholated herbs and wild strawberries. This begins with a lovely inner sweetness and cooling minerality, which lifts its tart wild berry fruits. Zesty acidity refreshes the palate as the 2021 finishes long and stains with a licorice tinge. Very nice.  Drinking 2023 -2027.  - Vinous 90

Zekun Shuai writes:  An excellent Rosso di Montalcino that shows precision of ripeness and a mineral twist. Plenty of red berries, plums and hints of grapefruit and fine spices. Juicy and tense on the palate with good texture and firmness. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.  - James Suckling 92

Winemaker Description

An elegant, fragrant wine with great concentration and intensity. A complex and intense aroma, with a fresh mineral base. Powerful and rich on the palate, with fresh rounded tannins. A limited edition wine that we only craft from the best vintages.

The bodega stands in the historic Pago de Valdestremero estate, where the vineyards were already famous in the 16th century, producing grapes used in the wine served at the Court of King Philip II in Valladolid.

Our Professional Review 

One of the most classic and historic producers in all of Rioja. Medium-bodied with chew tannins with ripe red fruit flavors. Beautiful finish with a lively acidity.
- Oscar Garcia, Wine Buyer, 67wine

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2020

Characterized by a long growing cycle and perfect phenolic ripening. It produced wines with great aromatic intensity and fruit concentration, well-balanced between alcohol and acidity, and highly suitable for long aging.
grapes

100% Tempranillo from our own vineyards in Rodezno and Labastoda, with an average vine age of 40 years.

Manual harvesting in boxes, with cluster selection in the vineyards. The grapes are transported refrigerated to the winery to maintain their integrity. After rigorous quality control on optical sorting tables, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occur naturally. Two years of aging in our own American oak barrels (new the first year and four-year-old barrels the second). We perform four traditional rackings by candlelight, from barrel to barrel. Bottled in June 2023.

Intense and brilliant garnet color with a vivid ruby rim. On the nose, it stands out for its high intensity, with notes of red fruits—raspberries, wild strawberries, and redcurrants— wrapped in a marked balsamic aroma of caramel, vanilla, toffee, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it is long, balanced, and fresh, with fine and silky tannins. A long finish, where the initial balsamic and fresh red fruit aromas characteristic of Viña Alberdi reappear.

Viña Alberdi is characterised by a notable food-pairing versatility. It is an ideal companion to appetisers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pastas and stews, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93 Points | A classical, typical Rioja Alta red with elegant notes of vanilla, coconut, smoked spices and strawberries. Refined and suave, with fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Juicy and elegant. Really approachable now, but give it two more years to get more mushroom complexity.

Critic Notes

James Suckling 93 Points |  Perfumed aromas of dried roses, red berry fruit and licorice pull you in. Darker mocha notes, too. Medium-bodied yet deep, with dark minerals and spices accompanying the fresh berry fruit. Fine and tight tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Notes

The Blaufränkisch grapes come from vineyards characterised by limestone and slate in and around Jois am Leithagebirge. The grapes were harvested from mid to late September. After manual harvesting and sorting, the Blaufränkisch was fermented spontaneously in wooden fermentation racks and, after slow pressing in a basket press, aged in used Tonneaux.

On the palate, the wine appears juicy with lots of fresh cherry and pomegranate juice, with plums and lightly roasted herbs. At the same time, this is a Blaufränkisch with a mineral fresh and cool side, a lively acidity and a remarkable inner tension. Here, too, you find the slightly earthy and tart with a fine tannin. This is intense, transparent, clear and fresh wine that quickly builds up drinkability. 

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

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 93 Points | “Lovely crushed berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a crunchy and delicious finish. A blend of mostly merlot and cabernet sauvignon with some syrah and cabernet franc.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 94 Points | Rich cherries, cassis, fresh olives and dark spices. Svelte, fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate, showing lots of juicy berries and a linear, extensive finish. Excellent length, focus and structure here.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | This is another robust wine from Tenuta Luce with immediate notes of maple syrup and brown sugar. Made with a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Sangiovese, the 2021 Lucente releases aromas of cherry cola, Tootsie Roll and toasted hazelnut. With 300,000 bottles made, you get a big and burley red wine.

Winemaker Description 

Lucente is the result of a careful selection of the estate’s vineyards that are particularly suited for the production of a fruity and very pleasant wine. Like Luce, it is made from Sangiovese and Merlot, which prevails in the blend.

The wine is an intense and bright red color. The nose opens with intense fruity hints of blackberry, plum and currant, enriched by toasted and vanilla nuances. On the palate it is full and enveloping, soft and elegant, with a persistent finish that displays a pleasantly sweet and fruity aftertaste.

Expert Ratings

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Mongrana is terrific. Bright and punchy, with gorgeous fruit purity, the 2021 is a delicious wine for drinking over the near and medium term. Aging in cement and steel keeps the flavors vibrant. This is a fine edition of the Mongrana.  Dring 2023 -2027  - Vinous 90

James Suckling writes:  This is ripe with dark cherries, mulberries and jam. Some hibiscus and red spices, too. Medium- to full-bodied with tight but finely polished tannins and a succulent, mellow dark-fruited character. Racy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Winemaker Notes

The charm of Mongrana does not take long to reveal. Well-defined aromas of ripe fruit, morello cherry, blackberry and blueberry jump out of the glass, anticipating a complex bouquet of kirsch, ivy, and pine needles, enriched by a touch of licorice. On the palate, it offers a juicy, fresh sip with soft tannins. The long finale is savory, with a mineral note that persists in the mouth.

Winemaker Description

Hewitson Mourvedre Baby Bush 2019 is a wine produced by Hewitson winery in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia 1. It is made from 100% Mourvèdre grapes, which are grown on 15-year-old bush vines 1. The wine is a medium red with a bright purple hue and has aromas of brambly blueberry and black cherry, dried herbs, and earth 2. On the palate, it delivers a rich, velvety mouthfeel with sarsaparilla and classic blue fruits backed by very soft and fully ripe tannins 12. The grapes are whole bunch pressed and left on their skins for a couple of weeks before being aged for 15 months in seasoned French oak barriques.

Expert Reviews

According to Ray Jordan, a wine critic, the wine has a spicy raspberry and cherry character that lifts effortlessly from the glass. There is also a hint of liqueur chocolate and a lick of vanilla bean that adds to the complexity. 

Campbell Mattinson, another wine critic, describes the wine as firm, sweet, and ripe with just enough rusty/meaty notes to lend it some character. It feels of-the-earth even as the fruit swims forward, and its overall balance cannot be questioned. He suggests that it is good now but will be better in 2022.

Our Professional Review

Bart of 67Wine.com writes | Pale ruby red in color with an intriguing bouquet of wild blackberries, Asian spice, wild flowers and crushed rocks. In the mouth, the palate is soft and round with layered complexity of dark fruits and detailed minerality. This is a great example of why the wines of Etna are all the rage! A delicious rendition!
Bart Hopkins

Winemaker Description

Fessina Erse Etna Rosso is a light ruby color. Wild berries, coriander, cloves, pimento, pink pepper. Tasting of austere and soft tannins. Round and spicy, Erse tells an old story about Etna winemaking, where for hundred years the red grapes have been mixed with the white ones, a marriage between indigenous varieties. A picture of our melting pot vineyard where tastes and roots are melted together, giving a feminine complexity.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021 

Kerin O'Keefe of the WIne Enthusiast writes 93 Points | What a fantastic rosato. It opens with aromas of Mediterranean scrub, red berry, stone fruit and sea breeze while the elegant, mineral-driven, palate features juicy red cherry, wild strawberry, aromatic herb and spice set against bright acidity. It closes on a saline note.  

Winemaker Description

This small winery is the project of Sandrino Quadraroli, the owner of one of the finest restaurants in central Marche, Osteria del Borgia. Always a champion of the wines of his region, starting in 2012 he was finally able to crown his dream of producing wine. 

The 4 hectares estate was planted in 1999, upside down Guyot system, on clay, sandy and calcareous soil 500 meters above sea level on the south-facing hills right above lake Caccamo in the township of Serrapetrona located in the mountainous central part of the Marche region. 

The focus of the winery is the grape varietal indigenous to this sub-region: Vernaccia Nera, not found anywhere else in the world. This grape has a long history, however it was traditionally vinified sparkling and semi-sweet, possibly in order to tame the bold characteristics that this varietal has: crushed white and black pepper. Over the past two decades or so, a new generation of wineries in the area is concentrating on exalting the unique character of Vernaccia Nera and are bottling still, dry wines. The results are fascinating: the wines are distinctive, aromatic, full-bodied but elegant and vibrant, with good minerality and refreshing acidity. 

Winemaker Description

In the hands of Hannes Schuster, Sankt Laurent becomes a focused expression of the soils in and around St Margarethen. Sankt Laurent is thought to be related to Pinot Noir, a crossing of the noble grape and another variety of unknown origin, native to Burgenland. The Schuster always shows earthy yet fresh mineral-rich notes of cherry and red berries which explode on the palate.

Silky tannins, delicate spice and a lovely long finish are signature characteristics. As all the Schuster wines, it is organically farmed with meticulous work in the ideally situated vineyards. This Sankt Laurent was fermented with native yeasts and spent one year in used 500 Liter Stockinger barrels. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

90 Points Wine Advocate | The 2021 Sankt Laurent Burgenland blends the fruit of 14- to 34-year-old vines cultivated in Sankt Margarethen, Zagersdorf, Oslip and Donnerskirchen. Aged in large, used barrels for 10 months, this release displays a bright cherry color and a pure, fresh and reductive nose of cherries, red berries, black pudding, earth and grass. Silky and fresh on the palate, this is a charmingly fruity, light to medium-bodied red wine with remarkable finesse, juiciness and fruit intensity. If at all, this autochthonous red is reminiscent of a refreshing Gamay from the Loire Valley. A great drinking pleasure indeed. 11.5% stated alcohol. Diam cork. Tasted in April 2023.

Winemaker Description

Château Blaignan’s vineyard is planted of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The wine matures for 18 months in vats and in oak barrels. The wine is of an intense colour. The nose is fruity with pronounced notes of blackcurrant, black cherries and a hint of spice. Full bodied, Château Blaignan shows structure and velvet tannins on the palate, that make it a wine to drink young or to keep a few years in cellar (to be kept between 3 to 12 years). 

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling 90 Points | Ripe cherries, stewed strawberries and berry jam on the nose with some chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with soft, sleek tannins. Fruity. Drink after 2022. (2018).

Winemaker Description

Ruby red. Aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries, and black pepper. Refined, light tannins and bright acidity make this a lifting, fruity wine. Pair with salumi, tomato and meat-based sauces and pizza Margherita.

Our Professional Review

Purple-red color. Leather and tar and black plum on the nose. Medium plus body with light-medium tannins. Blackberries and oak and some smoke on the palate. Nice clean finish. This wine wants umami! A great wine for pork, steak, mushrooms, hard cheeses, maybe just your favorite movie?

Winemaker Description 

Blend: 28% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Petit Verdot, 8% Tanat, 8% Petit Manseng, 5% Cabernet Franc

The aromas of the 2021 Foothills are snappy and alive, with red and black fruits, subtle dried herbs, and bright summer berries. It is medium bodied with soft tannins and vibrant acidity, bringing more to the table than would be expected of its price tag. The flavors are layered and many, allowing for more contemplative complexity than we are used to from an “everyday” wine.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

James Suckling writes 92 Points |  Fruity nose of ripe blackberries, currants, chocolate orange and oyster shell. It’s medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and fresh with some spicy and salty notes to close. Drink from 2023. 

Jane Anson writes 93 Points | On the outskirts of St Julien, making some of the best value wines on the Médoc peninsula. This is a great 2019, really one to look out for, good value and full of blackberry and black cherry fruits, polished with muscular frame, can easily last another decade or more. Eric Boissenot consultant.  - Jane Anson 93

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 90 Points | The 2019 Lanessan continues to perform very well, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, licorice and fresh tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with rich, powdery tannins and a vibrant core of fruit, it's a fine effort from a property with immense potential. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 91 Points | The 2019 Lanessan is a powerful, deep wine. Grilled herbs, pepper, sage, mint and tobacco lend notable aromatic intensity. The Cabernet is especially marked here. Lanessan is pretty assertive in 2019. There is quite a bit of Cabernet savoriness and tannin. 

Georgina Hindle of Decanter writes 91 Points | Lovely texture here, deep and intense but also smooth, with high-toned blackcurrant and black cherry. There's a pleasing chalky dryness to the tannins and an appealing minerality that comes through. Solid core, well presented but not hugely long.  Drinking 2022 - 2030.

Jancis Robinson writes 16/20 Points |  Tasted blind. Some lusciousness on the nose. Energy and lift with sleek fruit, good balance and interest. 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Petite Sirah is dark, inky, and dense, with layers of bramble berry fruit, touches of earth, and lovely floral tones interwoven with more savory notes of black pepper and cigar box spice, all supported by balanced oak integration. On the palate, ripe saturated flavors of cassis, blackberry preserves, blueberry creme, cherry kirsch, vanilla spice, and dark plum envelope the intense mouthfeel. A silky viscosity with voluminous texture, wrapped in velvety mouth-coating tannins, completes the generous and lengthy finish. Perfectly drinkable upon release, but also has the depth and complexity to age for many years to come. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

93 Points James Suckling Points | Lovely aromas of toasted herbs, baked plums, nutmeg and chicory root. Full-bodied with tight tannins. Juicy and succulent red and black fruit on the palate, accented by notes of hot paprika, rosemary and allspice. Complex, but remains approachable. 86% petite sirah, 6% syrah, 5% grenache and 3% mixed Rhone varieties. 

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A bruiser, with concentrated blueberry, smoky meat and cracked pepper flavors that gather tension and tannins on the finish.Jeb Dunnuck 92 points Lots of ripe blue fruits, violets, flowers, and mineral-laced nuances all emerge from the 2019 Petite Sirah, a medium to full-bodied, inky, yet surprisingly vibrant and lively wine. It has fine tannins, and I love its overall balance. It’s going to have 10-15 years of longevity if well stored. 

Winemaker Description

These vines are two kilometers inland from the Bío Bío river. The granitic soil has its origins in the volcanic activity that defined the costal range called Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, which translates to "Cougar’s Land," or Tierra de Pumas in Spanish. The wine itself is appropriately named due with its complex, fruity and meaty character. 

Expert Review

92 Points Robert Parker | The other new País is the 2019 Tierra de Pumas that comes from three hectares of old vines, the 77th vineyard registered in the zone, so one of the oldest remaining vineyards in Bio-Bio and possibly all of Chile, certainly over 200 years old. The soils are a mixture of granite and quartz with some clay, and the lower parts are more sedimentary, what it's locally called Serie Santa Juana because the vineyard is quite large. This is certainly different from the rest—if it's because of the soil or not is another story, but the vinification and élevage is very similar for all. There is a note that reminds me of blood orange peel and talcum powder, intensely aromatic, almost as if it went through semi-carbonic fermentation (which it did not). When tasted next to the other four País bottlings, this is the one that stands out because it has a different character. 10,000 bottles produced.

Our Professional Review

Rand Sieger Buyer, 67Wine | This lovely Pinot Noir comes from a 6th generation family winery in the Thermen Region, just a short drive south from Vienna.

Cistercian Monks planted Pinot Noir vines here as early as the 12th century. Aging is done only in old oak barrels to preserve  the purity and freshness of the fruit. Aromas and flavors of bright red fruits are accented by a light peppery spice on the finish. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | I like the smoky, dried-cherry, blackberry and strawberry character and just a hint of dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied, round and flavorful. Drinkable now, but better in 2021. 

Winemaker Description

Produced from vines planted well south of the cluster of northern-Thermenregion villages that comprise the majority of their holdings, Stadlmann’s Pinot Noir (called “Blauburgunder” locally) is simultaneously fresh and substantial, offering the textural harmoniousness of their white wines, as well as a lifted and elegant spice character that puts one in the mind of excellent red Burgundy. (After all, it was the Cistercian monks who brought Pinot Noir from Burgundy to the Thermenregion in the late 1100s.) Like the estate’s white wines, this is fermented and aged entirely in large, well-worn oak casks and bottled without fining and with only a gentle filtration.

Winemaker Description

A top-tier old vine Beaujolais-Villages from a densely planted, early ripening sector. This super value is supple, succulent and very pretty. Winemaker Description.

Expert Rating

James Suckling 92 Points | This has aromas of raspberries, wet clay, red plums and rosemary stems. Lovely clarity of fruit with a creamy texture and silky yet sturdy tannin frame. Serious Beaujolais Villages. Drink now.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous 90 Points | Vivid red. Spice-accented red fruit and floral scents. Weighty yet quite lively for the vintage, offering bitter cherry and red currant flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up. Finishes with solid grip, subtle tannins and spicy cut, leaving a suggestion of cherry pit behind.

Winemaker Description 

Established in 1982, Montinore Estate is one of the largest producers of certified estate wines made from Biodynamic grapes in the country. With their 200-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic and Stellar Certified Organic vineyard located in north Willamette Valley in Oregon.

Our Professional Review

This beautifully crafted Super Tuscan will impress everyone at the table with its succulent fruit, plush texture and savory complexity. Aromas of cherries, plums and blackberries on the nose with some lovely spice and floral notes. Full and robust in the mouth with ripe tannins and terrific balance, this delicious red will grace the table with flavor and food friendly panache. - Bart, 67 Wine Buyer

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Le Sughere di Frassinello is pliant and expressive right out of the gate. Succulent red cherry, plum, new leather, rose petal and mint are all kicked up in this tasty second wine from Rocca di Frassinello. Pretty floral notes brighten up the finish nicely.  Drinking 2022 to 2029.  - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes:  Medium-bodied red with aromas of dark plums, chocolate, walnuts, dried herbs and bell peppers. Rich and fruity with a firm, ripe-tannin frame and a fleshy texture. Sangioveto, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 91

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A lush yet solidly built red highlighted by cherry and blackberry flavors. Shows eucalyptus, rosemary and menthol accents that lend complexity, along with a mineral underpinning. 

Winemaker Description 

Deep ruby color, with a broad bouquet of red fruits. It has great substance in the mouth, with soft and round tannins and a long and enveloping finish.

It pairs well with full-flavored pasta and rice dishes, and game such as deer, wild boar, hare. Also recommended with birds such as wild duck.

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

Our Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is medium ruby in color and displays expressive fruit aromas of forward Bing cherry, cranberry, espresso, toasty oak, and damp forest floor earthiness. The palate is bright and full of cherry fruit with sandalwood and cedar overtones. The finish on this Pinot is soft with earthiness typically found in Carneros Pinots, mocha, and lingering flavors of oriental spice. This wine is quite enjoyable in its youth and will develop more Pinot aromas and complexity over time.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points | Plenty of dried pinot with some hints of dried flowers and spices. Medium- to full-bodied. Hints of bitterness. (2022).

Wine Spectator 92 | A high-pitched savory note streaks through a core of gently mulled black cherry fruit, while light bramble and rosehip accents underscore the sanguine-tinged finish. (2022). 

Winemaker Notes

Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) GSM is from the Uco Valley about 2 hours drive from Mendoza into the higher mountains.  GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre or Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell whether you use French or Spanish names for the grapes.   The blend produces a wine that is leaner and "Rhone like”  very different from the Malbecs produced in Argentina.

70% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 15% Monastrell co-fermented. A cool, semi-carbonic maceration lasts 8 days. Fermentation in a 3,000-litre raw-concrete egg-shaped fermenter with no skin contact. Ambient yeasts only. 50% of the wine is aged here on its lees, the other 50% is aged in third-use French oak for 6 months. 8 months in bottle before release. 

Critic Notes

Oscar Garcia 67Wine.com | Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) GSM is from the Uco Valley about 2 hours drive from Mendoza into the higher mountains.  GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre or Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell whether you use French or Spanish names for the grapes.   The blend produces a wine that is leaner and "Rhone like”  very different from the Malbecs produced in Argentina.

Amanda Barnes writes:  Pale cherry in colour, Ver Sacrum takes a delicate approach to their GSM blend which sings with notes of wild strawberries, tarragon and cherry blossom. There’s a slight tartness to the palate, with crisp acidity and barely-there powdery tannins. Delightfully easy-drinking, chillable light red.  Drinking 2024 to 2026.  - Jancis Robinson 16+