White Wine

Critic Notes

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The white 2020 Blanco is a little closed, young, clean and tender with subtle oak. They produced a little bit more in 2020, and the wine has less oak and less buttery sensations, a change that started with the 2017 vintage, which seems to have found its style harvesting earlier to retain freshness; it has 13.04% alcohol and a low pH 3.23 and matured in larger oak containers, 500-liter oak barrels and some concrete for 12 months. It's floral and expressive, a blend of Viura with 20% Garnacha Blanca that they still consider work in progress but moving in the direction they want to go. 16,200 bottles and 100 magnums were filled in March 2022.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

James Suckling writes:  A delicious, creamy white with aromas of apricots, baked peaches, hazelnuts, white chocolate and nougat. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a ripe and creamy palate. Lovely buttery pastry and nougat character, with a fresh finish. Drink now  - James Suckling 93

Pedro Ballesteros MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Pierre Monsour write:  Round and warm on the nose, with fine notes of smoke. A mouth-filling wine that's fresh and expressive.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Decanter 90

Winemaker Notes

Contino Blanco 2020 shows a very intense nose, marked by its aging in barrel. It is fresh and fruity wine, a true reflection of the identity of our vineyard. San Gregorio offers a Garnacha Blanca with great complexity and volume. The soils are clayey-calcareous, with medium stoniness, key for good drainage.

Blend: 80% Viura, 20% Garnacha Blanca

Expert Review- Vintage 2023

Christina Pickard of the Wine Enthusiast writes 93 Points | Lime leaf, waxy citrus, white peach notes and a hint of honey open this Clare Valley Riesling. The combo of dryness, cheek-sucking, orange peel acidity and chalky texture makes for a somewhat austere wine solo, but pair with a creamy goat's cheese or seafood risotto and watch it shine. 

Producer Description 

Originally a pastoral run dating back to 1839, and originally named Wolta Wolta, Jim Barry purchased the land for The Lodge Hill Vineyard in 1977 as he was sure it would “produce some of the best Riesling in the Clare Valley.” Situated at 480 meters above sea level and situated on the Eastern Ranges of the Clare Valley, the grapes at our Lodge Hill Vineyard are exposed to concentrated bursts of sunlight and cool nights which encourage slower ripening. This helps deliver beautiful natural acidity and citrus characters that ripen early because of the small crop it produces. Gentle pressing and a rapid move into the fermentation allows the natural fruit flavors to be preserved.

Aromas of fresh lime, spice, citrus blossom, white peach, and nectarine skins open on the nose. In the mouth, the lime flavors take center stage commanding attention on entry. The fruit is fleshy with considerable weight and framed with a refreshing driving acid. A lot of wine!

Critic Notes

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The Albariño 2023 El Jardín de Lucía was produced by Zarate mixing grapes from different villages in Salnés, Meaño and Meis. It has an expressive nose that mixes white flowers and apples and is quite fresh and elegant. It has a moderate 12.5% alcohol, some more leesy aromas and a round palate, with pungent flavors and a gentle texture.  It was bottled in May 2024.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92

Producer Description 

In the glass there is a full color, deep, gold. Has yellow fruit with van toast and amandelen.

A full body followed by a thin length with full height.  A great gastronomic. 

Allan Meadows writes:  The hallmark citrus influences of a fine Séchet are on display along with notes of white flower, iodine and ocean breeze. Here too there is fine density to the palate coating flavors that are at once caressing but punchy, all wrapped in a clean, very dry and lemony finish that is presently somewhat youthfully austere.  - Burghound 91-93 ♥️ Outstanding

Decanter | From vines grown on the plateau above Les Clos, this is a great introduction to the Raveneau style.

Expert Reviews

Decanter 91 Points | Raveneau’s Petit Chablis comes from relatively recently planted vines (2010) located high on the plateau above the grand cru. So clean, vibrant and precise. Crystal clear in character. This is certainly not a heavyweight but is a memorable example of the appellation. The wine will be bottled in Spring 2023. Aged in oak (400/500l old wood) which adds an extra level of roundness and suppleness to the wine. A very fine Petit Chablis. (2021). 

John Gilman 90 Points  | This has excellent depth for a Petit Chablis, as well as lovely mineral undertow and backend lift and has to be one of the wines to search out for dipping into the vintage in its first blush of youth. The bouquet is really pretty, wafting from the glass in a mix of lemon, apple, a lovely base of chalky soil tones, white flowers and a nice touch of citrus zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and has excellent mineral undertow, with a lovely core of fruit, superb acids and grip and a long, complex and quite lovely finish. This is very fine. (Drink between 2023-2035). (2021). 

Burghound | Note: from a .82 ha holding There is plenty of maritime character to the pretty green fruit and citrus scents. There is impressive density and solid underlying tension to the utterly delicious middleweight flavors that conclude in a crisp, stony and refreshing finale. This should drink well after only 2 to 3 years of keeping. (2021).

Vinous  | The 2021 Petit Chablis has an attractive bouquet that could dupe you into thinking there are light red fruits (white tipped strawberries) here. The palate is well balanced with good weight, just a touch of bitter lemon with a linear finish that is lifted by the acidity. This is a fine Petit Chablis. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

10% Nebbiolo vinified as white, 90% Chardonnay. 60% of the grapes come from Rocche di Castiglione (Cascina Pira) and the rest are grown in Barbaresco. This crystalline white is as hard to come by as Luca’s more famous single vineyard Barolos and Barbarescos and we are happy to have a small allotment.

Winemaker Description

A clean, charming, distinctive wine with expressive minerality. Its structure and intensity in the mouth suggest good ageing potential. Ideal with fish and white meats with creamy sauces.

The winery and vineyards are located in and around the village of Poinchy, which is just outside of Chablis itself. The wines from this area tend to be ever so slightly more generous on the palate in terms of power and amplitude, but with a clear and distinct line of briny minerality and acidity that unmistakably scream 'Chablis'!

AgriBio certified since 2010 and practicing organic farming. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in 50% tank and 50% neutral barrels of varying age. Blended wines are aged on the lees for 18 months in combination of 2/3 tank and 1/3 oak.

Expert Reviews

Neal Martin of Vinous writes | The 2021 Chablis Côte de Léchet 1er Cru comes from 60-year-old vines and spent six months on the fine lees, 10% aged in barrel. It has a punchy nose with very aromatic floral scents, hints of grapefruit and more subtle earthy aromas. The palate is well-balanced, with a slightly honeyed opening and acidity neatly offsetting tropical notes of mango and pineapple. Quite concentrated on the finish, this should drink well for a few years. Oddly, more like a 2022 in style!  Drinking 2024 to 2032.

Jancis Robinson writes 16.5+/20 Points | Cask sample. More discreet nose than the regular Chablis and much more obvious acidity. Should mature into a very attractive drink. Some lime notes and medium palate weight.  Drinking 2025 to 2035.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of lime, slate, chalk and fresh citrus fruits leap out of the glass atop a concentrated, citrus and pineapple fruit on the palate. Layers of mineral and citrus on the finish with racy acidity.

Critic Notes

Bruce Sanderson writes:  This white shows intensity, offering plenty of succulent peach and floral aromas and flavors. Clean, lemony acidity keeps the palate refreshed, with a chalky feel in the end. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Producer Description 

Tropical, laid back feel to this - pineapple fruit with bright acidity. Robert Parker compared the sweet wines of Tirecul as the most notable sweet wines from anywhere in the world. Les Pins is the estates entry level sweet wine.

Château Tirecul La Gravière is located in the Monbazillac appellation, in southwest France. This estate was created in 1992, when Bruno and Claudie Bilancini decided to rent 9 hectares of one of the region's flagship vineyards, the “Vignobles de Tirecul”, a site historically considered one of the region's Premiers Crus. Bruno, an oenologist by training, previously worked at the local cooperative.

They purchased the 400-year-old estate five years later and now have 16 hectares of vines. The estate's production is based around four main wines produced most years, a dry white IGP Périgord named Cuvée Andrea and three sweet wines from the Monbazillac appellation. Limited quantities of red Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends and sparkling wines are also produced. The estate uses a high proportion of Muscadelle in its wines. Bruno Bilancini claims that the quality of Monbazillac Muscadelle is superior to that found in Bordeaux, because the Monbazillac vine is largely virus-free. The couple have always farmed using environmentally friendly methods, deciding to adopt organic farming in 2009 and obtaining certification for all their vineyards starting in 2012.

Les Pins is a blend of Sémillon and Muscadelle whose grapes are affected by noble rot . Fermentation takes place in barrels and vats for 1 to 2 months, then aging lasts 12 to 24 months in vats and French oak barrels.

Producer Description 

A nectar from one end of the tasting to the other! An intensely golden adornment, a nose of perfectly over-ripe Chenin, underlined by great elegance, a note of almond cream, quince, very ripe peach skin.

The palate is very straight, freshness, tension and sweetness so well integrated, a finish of candy sugar crystals but also the fine bitterness of the schists, it is a very beautiful vintage, a wine built to last and already so pleasant to taste now. It is the cuvée representative of the estate's terroir, i.e. almost five vines.

Producer Description 

Aromas of melons, fresh herbs, white flowers; a delicate note of sea salt. Creamy yet light on the tongue; poached white fruits, lime zest, grapefruit. Very long.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 88-91 Points | Notes of wet stone, apple, carnation and spice lead to round and supple but slightly denser medium weight flavors that seem almost easy-going on the mid-palate before instantly tightening up on the balanced if youthfully austere finale that could also benefit from developing more depth.

Expert Reviews

Allen Meadows Burghound 89-92 Points  | A very Meursault nose of white fleshed fruit, acacia blossom, hazelnut and a whiff of citrus character introduces rich and seductively textured medium weight flavors that flash a lovely minerality that adds a sense of lift to the bitter lemon-tined finale. This is also an excellent villages and worth considering.

Jasper Morris 90-92 Points | Mid lemon and lime. The bouquet is not overtly weighty. The hillside vineyards and those below complement each other. There is certainly excellent energy beneath here a fine thread to freshen the weight of white orchard fruit. Impeccable village Meursault.

Antoine Jobard is the son and heir to the estate of the famous Francois Jobard, one of the first producers ever imported by the venerable Kermit Lynch. The estate is managed with the same quality standards and organic practices as Antoine's father.

The Aligoté for this wine comes from a single vineyard of only 0.2 hectare in size, which was planted in 1987. This is some high-quality old-school Aligoté, gently pressed with no settling of must, primary and malolactic fermentations in oak (but only 20% new), no lees stirring during élevage, and nearly two years of aging in 4-5 year-old neutral oak.

This all serves to cultivate a rich and creamy profile while preserving this varietal's natural freshness, creating an Aligoté that is crisp but flavorful and speaks of Jobard's incredible terroir. 

Expert Reviews

Allen Meadows Burghound 91-93 Points | Here too the nose is quite fresh with its combination of apple, white flowers and just sliced citrus, especially lemon. There is both excellent punch and a lovely texture though only average density to the lingering and balanced finish where a touch of youthful austerity slowly emerges. While this could be enjoyed young, it has apparent development potential so at least a few years of keeping are recommended. (2022). 

Vinous 93-94 Points | The 2022 Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru had a lot of reduction when I tasted it from barrel though its intensity was clear. The palate is very promising: wonderful tension here steely and spicier than the Meursault Village with touches of fennel and white pepper on the finish. Quite feisty and surely one for long-term aging. (Drink between 2026-2048).

Expert Review 

James Suckling 95 Points | For a gruner veltliner this has dangerous freshness and – less astonishingly – enormous depth of fresh-herb aromas. Very long and refined finish that feels almost weightless. Delightfully refined finish that makes you want you to stay here for a long time. Drink or hold. 

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews

94 James Suckling | Notes of dried apples, glazed lemons, orange curd, roasted almonds and crushed stones. Hints of dried lemon peel, too. Full-bodied and broad yet it is delicate with impressive fresh acidity. Incredible minerality here with a touch of zestiness at the end. Lingering finish. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Notes

This is an estate-level, lighter, dry Chardonnay at a great price. Think of it like a German Petite Chablis.

Notes of tropical fruits and the minerality of limestone with a toasty finish. The wine has a fine texture and fullness that makes the incredible food friendly.

Producer Description 

A field blend with Dona Blanco as the dominant varietal, but also Verdejo, Godello, Palomino, and Albillo. The vineyard averages about 90 years old, including some that are pre-phylioxera, from Villanueva de Campeán and Cabañas de Sayago, within the scope of the D.O. Tierra del Vino

Previously owned by various owners who each planted field blends according to their own expressions, the vineyards are now owned by the winery and blended together

Driven by white flowers, citrus and mineral tones, it's rounded on the palate without a strong oak influence on the aromas. 

Ageing is exclusively carried out in French oak barrels from different cooperages.

Winemaker Description

Bruno Clair set up an eponymous estate in France established in 1979 with vineyard holdings spread all over the area.  Half of the vines are a century old. Bruno Clair, a true vigneron, has the expertise needed to reinvent this area better than anyone and his Marsannay wines are very elegant and long-lasting. His respect for the terroir and the stylistic precision of his wines makes him one of the best producers in Burgundy.

This textbook En la Rue de Vergy is one of the rare white wines of the Côte de Nuits. It is complex, perfectly balanced, and well-structured with very clean tannins and crisp acidity and a long finish. The intense, rich palette presents lemon, grapefruit, oak, vanilla, yellow apple, almonds, and white melon flavors with herbal, floral, and mineral nuances. It's a nice accompaniment to paella.

Winemaker Description 

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Producer Description 

Crisp aromatic and complex, with hints of passion fruit, grapefruit, and white pepper.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 97 Points | This very concentrated and super-elegant riesling Auslese is still tightly-wound. However, it already has a very wide spectrum of subtle yellow fruit and wild flower aromas. Terrific structure behind the rich, but still medium-bodied palate. Incredibly long, slatey finish with staggering freshness that pulls you back for more of this Mosel masterpiece. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

Decanter 95 Points | Tangs of cut stone and lime zest are peppered with gunpowder and smoke, but there's a powerful core of ripe lemon, lime and yellow cherry flavours too. While light on its feet, it's an unctuous, supple wine with a pert tangerine sweetness. Quite a bit more expressive in youth than the 2022 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, it's already hedonistic with a brief decant but certainly ageworthy as well. 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Delivering power and concentration, this is densely packed in a compact frame. Opens up to reveal impressively fresh flavors of dried thyme and apricot. This white's acidity shows a crunchy texture, and a wet slate note brings a cooling feel to the finish. This is one for the cellar. Best from 2026 through 2046.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is rather shy. The palate tingles with tangerine, ripe, rounded, aromatic, and full of tangy, zesty, sweet, ripe citrus. Wonderfully expressive on the mid-palate and with a subtle finish, full of those vivid aromatics. (Sweet).

Winemaker Description

Wachau Riesling is dry and often defined by high levels of dry extract (due to a lengthy ripening period) and a pleasing freshness (due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night). Rudi Pichler’s Riesling Achleithen comes from steep, southwest-facing terraces of meager primary rock soils resulting in a dry white wine of great structure and strong mineral character.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 97 Points | This very concentrated and super-elegant riesling Auslese is still tightly-wound. However, it already has a very wide spectrum of subtle yellow fruit and wild flower aromas. Terrific structure behind the rich, but still medium-bodied palate. Incredibly long, slatey finish with staggering freshness that pulls you back for more of this Mosel masterpiece. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. (2022). 

Decanter 95 Points | Tangs of cut stone and lime zest are peppered with gunpowder and smoke, but there's a powerful core of ripe lemon, lime and yellow cherry flavours too. While light on its feet, it's an unctuous, supple wine with a pert tangerine sweetness. Quite a bit more expressive in youth than the 2022 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, it's already hedonistic with a brief decant but certainly ageworthy as well. (2022). 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Delivering power and concentration, this is densely packed in a compact frame. Opens up to reveal impressively fresh flavors of dried thyme and apricot. This white's acidity shows a crunchy texture, and a wet slate note brings a cooling feel to the finish. This is one for the cellar. Best from 2026 through 2046. (2022). 

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is rather shy. The palate tingles with tangerine, ripe, rounded, aromatic, and full of tangy, zesty, sweet, ripe citrus. Wonderfully expressive on the mid-palate and with a subtle finish, full of those vivid aromatics. (Sweet).(2022). 

Winemaker Description

Lemongrass, mint and wet slate aromas alongside cassis on the palate.

Expert Review

Robert Parker 91 Points | The 2021 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is very clear, pure and refined on the fascinating, flinty, finely concentrated and lemon-scented nose. Lush and savory on the palate, with crystalline acidity and great precision, this is a supple yet frisky as well as substantial and sustainable Auslese from the Himmelreich, and it develops a long, complex and saline finish. This is highly stimulating already, but the best is yet to come here. 

Winemaker Description

This Riesling is rich in taste with a fresh, fruity delicate flavor.

Serve slightly chilled.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 96 Points | Here is a great Mosel Kabinett that needs a bit more time to show what it is really made of. Still very young with a pronounced yeasty character that slowly recedes with aeration, but the white peach and honeysuckle aromas that emerge are stunning. Extremely vibrant and precise, the slatey acidity making this fabulously graceful. As pure as an Alpine stream running with glacier water.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | This elegant version starts off closed before opening to reveal flavors of jasmine, sweet green apple and Asian pear. Shows impressive purity and inner density, with accents of fresh-cut chive and wet slate. Bitter, pithy acidity moves through, making for the shimmering, razor-edge finish, which lingers. Drink now through 2040. 300 cases imported.

Winemaker Description

This Riesling is rich in taste with a fresh, fruity delicate flavor. Serve slightly chilled.

Expert Reviews

Robert Parker 95 Points | The 2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett offers a discreet and sublime, complex and very elegant and slightly flinty nose with a coolish and very delicate expression of stewed apricots but also some greenish berries, whereas the first stony character remains. This irresistible and noble bouquet leads to a round and lush yet also refined and savory palate, with coolish apricot flavors on the long and sustainably salty finish that is firmly structured but elegant and highly stimulating. This is a superb, very elegant and complex, sustainably structured Sonnenuhr. (2020).

Wine Spectator 92 Points A lightweight, intense white defined by a mix of floral, peach, celery seed, chive and slate aromas and flavors. Racy and linear, with a terrific finish. Drink now through 2038. (2020).