Orders are available for pick-up at Restaurant Nicholas at 160 Route 35 South Red Bank, NJ 07701 during the following times:
Monday: 9:30-3:30; Tuesday – Friday: 9:15am – 9:00pm; Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm; Sunday: Closed
#24 Wine of the Year (2022), Wine Spectator
92 Points, Wine Spectator – 91 Points, James Suckling
“This supple red shows a core of cherry and plum fruit allied to olive, juniper and tobacco notes. Delivers well-integrated tannins and acidic structure, lingering nicely on the finish.”
96 Points, International Wine Challenge – 92 Points, Decanter
This is a perennially highly rated Cabernet Franc that is actually hand harvested in small trays to avoid bruising any of the fruit. The results are simply amazing. More than half the Cabernet Franc that comes in is rejected, prioritizing only the best grapes. This makes for a super energetic Cabernet with juicy red and black fruits, and the signature dash of a mint on the finish. It’s insanely good.
WS #4 2019 Wine of the Year, 96 Points, Wine Spectator
2016 was an incredibly special year in Napa Valley. It was essentially the 5th straight vintage of near perfect-conditions and a lot of the big boys produced some of their biggest, most elegant Cabernets to date. Groth’s was still one of the standouts in any group, a deeply concentrated, weighty Cab with sappy, juicy fruit and a carefully intertwined tannic structure. Absolutely gorgeous.
Our third single barrel of Whistle Pig and the first time we have our hands on their 6-year PiggyBack bottling. This one leads with a nose of freshly baked pumpernickel bread, butterscotch and toffee. On the palate, I get a lot of citrus & peach with a touch of lavender & black cherry. The finish here is strong & long with spicy dried fruits and caramel notes that linger. This one was distilled in house in Vermont, and as anyone can tell you with the farm releases, they always deliver the best of punches. This one comes in at 109.8 Proof.
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The 2021 Auctioneer is a Napa Cabernet that sizzles at this price point, incredibly well built and food friendly, with impeccable balance and not overly alcoholic or ripe. It’s a wine that wins you over with finesse over strength but one that I’m certain will win you over nonetheless. A priceless ode to a late father and a Napa legend is available today at a price that’s hard to ignore.
This is definitely one of the most unique private barrels of bourbon you’re gonna find anywhere and it comes from our friends at in Kirby at Wyoming Whiskey. It’s been two years since we’ve had this baby! They make their own whiskey in-house instead of getting it shipped to them and finishing it. In doing so, they use winter wheat to churn out a medium length whiskey with notes of honey, burnt sugar, cinnamon and caramel on the finish. It’s sensational – but I only have 120 bottles from this barrel to offer up.
For Chad, the 2022 vintage proved challenging, but nothing he couldn’t handle. The big frost in April took a toll on one of his go-to usual spots in the Dundee Hills. But he made some phone calls, talked to a few key people, and locked into some absolutely killer fruit from McMinnville a little further south down the Van Duzer Corridor where the frost had no impact. His newly released 2022 is a juicy, laser focused Pinot with tremendous energy and precision. A true gift from our favorite winemaker.
99 Points, Decanter – 98 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 98 Points, James Suckling
“The Sassicaia 2013 is just beautiful, and it takes a leap forward in quality. There is even greater precision and transparency with the aromas and flavours, there is a wonderful harmony and ease on the palate and there are even finer, and more seamless tannins on this wine. According to my co-host, Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta 2013 was a ‘record vintage for Sassicaia’. Carlo Paoli adds, ‘spring arrived early but without excess, summer started slowly and was only hot for 20 days and they started harvest mid-September for Cabernet Sauvignon. Everything was slow, calm and beautiful.’ The 2013 is at the beginning of its drinking window and drinking beautifully now, but it still has a long time to go.”
True whiskey and Knob Creek enthusiasts are going to go nuts for this one. Knob Creek Rye is as outstanding as it is rare but today we’re lucky enough to bring to you, my own single barrel of it. This is a big gold expression of Rye that holds nothing back. On the nose, there are hints of dill, rye and essence of charred oak. On the palate, you are hit over the head with baking spice, honey and freshly baked bread. The finish is certainly a warm “Kentucky Hug” that goes on forever.
95 Pts, Wine Enthusiast– 94 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 94 Pts, Vinous
“The 2000 Dom Perignon is a gorgeous, seductive wine that floats on the palate with remarkable grace. Toasty aromas meld into freshly cut flowers, apricots and pears, with sweet notes of mint and licorice that linger on the long finish. This perfumed, inviting Dom Perignon is elegance personified, and in this vintage the wine fully merits its lofty reputation.”
Elena Walch’s newly released 2022 Pinot Bianco continues to be the best example of Pinot Blanc anywhere. She’s the undisputed queen. There’s so much energy in this new release. Super light in color, with a busy nose that boasts ripe aromas of citrus, granny smith apple with a hint of freshly mowed grass. Made entirely in stainless steel, the wine is expressive, fresh and finishes as clean and tight as can be. Definitely will continue the run of 90+ scores once this one is reviewed.
98 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck – 96 Pts, Wine Spectator – 95 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“From a site with schistic galestro clay soils, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio is definitely the most complete and complex of these new releases from 2019 by Val di Suga. Fruit comes from an 18-hectare vineyard located at 430 to 450 meters in elevation. The wine offers more oozing richness and concentration in line with the character of the vintage with sweet cherry, blackberry, toasted cumin seed and pressed rose. This estate does a good job of maintaining the freshness of Sangiovese”
100 Points, Decanter – 100 Points, International Wine Report – 98 Points, Vinous
“The 2019 Cerro Sur is a magnificent wine from Favia in this vintage. This is the most polished and refined of this brilliant lineup, as it combines a gorgeous ripe dark fruit character, along with remarkable finesse and sheer class. It immediately begins to impress with seductive aromatics of ripe black cherries and blackberries, which are woven together with exotic spices, tobacco, espresso, florals, gravel and savory nuances all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied, beautifully structure and impeccably balanced. It all comes to a beautiful end, as it finishes with remarkable precision and poise. The Cerro Sur is an incredibly nuanced, utterly captivating wine that is striking today, however there is no doubt this will go on to evolve gracefully for many years to come.”
Do not be confused!!! This is not their regular Estate Cabernet Sauvignon that you see on the internet. This is the ‘Limited Reserve’ release, which only has the very best juice from all the Estate vineyards and only gets released in special vintages. In the 2021 vintage, which saw their regular Estate Cabernet receive double 93 point reviews, this one is at least 3 or 4 points better than that wine, though I doubt they’ll bother to even get it submitted for scoring. There’s not much of it to go around, but for me it’s of the same pedigree as the Austin Hope.
This is a new release and it’s quite the show stopper. If you’ve never had the Abbonna Dolcetto Dogliani Sori di But, you need to. Drawn off the highest vineyard in Dogliani where Dolcetto is the king grape. This one has tremendous energy out of the bottle. Dark violet in color, with wonderful aromas of black cherry, tea leaves and sage, fermented in steel vats to allow these ‘grand cru’ ancient plantings to shine through unencumbered. So aromatic and food friendly. A must try! Get it before these great vineyards are gone forever!
94 Points, Wine Spectator – 94 Points, James Suckling
“Deep, brilliant ruby. Vibrant, smoke-accented dark berries, candied flowers, licorice and olive are showcased on the perfumed nose. Sappy, penetrating and chewy in the mouth, offering gently sweet blackberry, cherry-cola and baking spice flavors that show sharp definition and mineral lift. Expressive and lively in style, with polished tannins building steadily on a very long, floral-accented finish. Roughly 20% whole clusters.” -James Suckling
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 95 Points, Wine Spectator – 95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The older vine cuvée, the 2020 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes is 100% Syrah. It’s similarly inky hued and offers up full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe black cherries, graphite, bouquet garni, and iron. It’s deep, concentrated, and powerful on the palate, with flawless balance, building yet silky tannins, and a great, great finish.” – Jeb Dunnuck
For generations, the Almondo family have tended vines of Arneis, the noble white variety of Piedmont. Their Bricco delle Ciliegie always seems to be a cut above the rest. It dazzles right out of the bottle, with tons of pent up energy and lift, generous aromas of white flowers, almonds and a touch of sage. The mid-palate has layers of concentrated peach and citrus fruit with a mineral streak and a long, clean finish that leaves you wanting another sip. The new release of BdC is finally here, and this is as electric as its ever been.
The aristocratic 2002 Savigny-les-Beaunes 1er cru Lavieres is just starting to hit its stride. The color is a bright, ruby red, with a marvelous bouquet of dark fruits laced with savory spice. The earth-tinged fruit is fresh and fine, dancing across the palate, vibrant and quite long. We drank this over a few hours; its development in the glass was a pleasure. There are so many layers to this wine, be sure to take your time with it.
99 Points, James Suckling – 97 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate
Deep ruby, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard offers its cassis aromas slowly, continually unfolding to accents of lavender, cured meats, chargrill, coffee and loads of savory spices. Matured 12 months in 70% new French oak, the palate is surprisingly lifted and silky, soaring with youthful fruit and spices, focused acidity and a streak of graphite driving the long finish. 1,379 cases were made. Hélène Seillan notes that the oak is sourced from about 15 different forests in France, and its singular, spicy, integrated oak is part of what makes this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon so distinctive.
99 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Flirting with triple digits, and perhaps the best Sorella yet, the 2019 Sorella explodes from the glass with a fantastic mineral essence that sways between dark red fruit tones, oak essence and freshly opened flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is impeccably balanced with a silky-smooth mid-palate that bestows a stunningly beautiful wine with gobs of complexity and a ripe frame of glossy black raspberry and blackberry fruit tones. Unwinding across the finish, the wine unpacks gorgeous layers that seduce me for a second, third and fourth sip and finally begs me to finish the glass. Buy this ASAP!” -Parker’s Wine Advocate
I was given fourteen samples to taste through, and found that the 5th sample was the winner. This one is not for the faint of heart. It was a tiny barrel of just 40 six-packs, but the quality here was out of the world. It checks in at 110 Proof (55% alc.) and has harmonious sweet and savory notes that dual throughout this super long and memorable finish. It’s worth selling less bottles to bring you one this good – you guys are going to absolutely love it.
Always a big customer favorite, this is a fantastic and fun bottle to enjoy on it’s own, but it is also a showstopper with pizza or any dinner table. Made for those who love their wines with inky dark fruit, this boasts a jet black color with aromas of black cherry, blackberries and baked cake spice. The Langhe Dolcetto is the product of extremely low-yielding but highly concentrated juice that comes from the younger vines of her Estate.
97 Pts (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast – 96+ Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 96+ Pts, Vinous
“The 2009 Solaia is one of the clear standouts of the vintage. Freshly cut flowers, raspberries, spices, mint and licorice burst from the glass as this fabulous, viscerally thrilling wine shows off its pure class. Today the oak is a bit prominent, but that won’t be an issue by the time the wine is ready to drink. In one of my blind tastings, the 2009 Solaia was flat-out great. There is no shortage of pedigree here. The 2009 has calmed down a little from its youth, when it was a much more exuberant wine, and has now begun to close down in bottle. Solaia is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc from a single parcel within the Antinori family’s Tignanello vineyard. “
#1 Wine of the Year, Wine Spectator 2023 (2018 vtg.)
95 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 94 Points, Vinous
“The Argiano 2019 Brunello di Montalcino comes out stronger than the previous 2018 and 2017 vintages, thanks to the precision and focus of its fruit flavors in this balanced vintage. It shows ample depth and volume, with sweet cherry and blackberry that fold into softly toasted spice and earth. Floral hints of lilac and iris make brief but poignant appearances. Velvety tannins and a nicely concentrated mid-weight palate give good staying power.”
The influence of the Caymus training on Austin Hope is maybe a little too obvious. The big, dark fruit-forward expression of Cabernet owes so much to that Wagner Family experience but featuring that unique Paso Robles’ layer of dense, rich smokiness. The wine is so big, yet perfectly chiseled, it’s no surprise it has emerged as the likely standard bearer out of Paso Robles.
Everybody in the whiskey world knows Baker’s. They have one heck of a reputation. They only make one two things their 7 year and the 13-year, and their 7-year single barrel straight Bourbon just means it is aged for at least 7 years. I was just allocated 18 bottles, and ours is special – it happens to be aged 8 years and 1 month! Bottled at the signature 107 Proof, this is a flat-out delicious bottle of bourbon from the distillery that makes no two barrels alike. This one hits with notes of Toffee, caramel, peanuts and black pepper. The mouthfeel is full and distinct with dried fruits joining the party and a smooth, lengthy finish.
From Soave Classico’s most privileged volcanic-limestone hillsides, comes a brand new release that is going to win a lot of people over. This is a high-tone northern Italian white bursting with white flowers, honeysuckle and stone fruits. Crisp and clean, finishing juicy and surprisingly long. A perfect complement to all kinds of seafood dishes, summer vegetables, poultry and light cheeses. There is no old-vine, small lot Pinot Grigio that exists for anywhere near the price of this one.
Here each block is tasted meticulously to ensure optimal ripeness prior to picking, and the fruit is given the stainless steel treatment with minimal oak use to bring out the full expression. The result is quintessential Santa Barbara Pinot. Lush and balanced with a little bit of spice, this one is a crowd pleasure, no doubt about it.
Barkan has not so quietly built a reputation as one of the top 3 wineries in all of Israel and though their wines are popular in part because they are Kosher, I have seen them wow a lot of expert tasters who tried it blindly and couldn’t believe quite how good these wines are. Wine Spectator wrote of this one: “Broad and supple, this shows raspberry, dried cherry and plum fruit, underpinned by light mocha, charred herb and sweet spice accents.”
94 Points, James Suckling
This one has always been my go-to for entertaining – I just hand everyone a glass upon arrival and people are always thrilled. The new batch of 2020 Barmes Cremant has just landed – and it’s so dang good. So much freshness and energy, with a beautiful nose of green apple and Anjou pear with tinges of honey, white nuts and white flowers. The fruit is near perfect, richly concentrated with a creamy texture. The finish is endless, with the tiniest of bubbles, with a zippy acidity that makes it perfect with seafood.
94 Points, Decanter – 93 Points, Jane Anson – 93 Points, James Suckling
The 2019 vintage of Château d’Aussières Corbières is a true reflection of its exceptional terroir and meticulous winemaking. This blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Carignan offers a harmonious balance of flavors, with notes of ripe berries, spice, and a hint of earthiness. The wine’s structure is elegant yet powerful, with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish that speaks to its age-worthiness.
91 Points, Vinous
Eric Guido of Vinous just reviewed a number of Bele Casel wines last week and lobbed heaps of praise for each and every one of them. For this one in particular, he wrote a great review that I agree with on multiple fronts. For one, he called out ripe orchard fruits and candied citrus which I think helps set this one apart. In the dry category, you rarely get so much pure, juicy fruit as you do in this one. He also noted the “chalky minerality’ before calling out ‘the amazing length and freshness’ of this wine which called an ‘excellent entry into the dry category’.
Not Yet Rated
Balade is the French word for wandering. It’s perfect since of all the Belle Glos single-vineyard selections this one was the hardest to find. It comes from the western part of Santa Rita Hills and is usually reserved entirely for restaurants. It’s an absolute beauty – roaring out of the gates with primary red and black berry fruits along with underlying freshness, and some toasted oak notes that sneak in towards the end.
Soon to be Rated
It seems like every year since inception that the Wagner Family’s Belle Glos Clark and Telephone Pinot Noir wows critics and earns some lavish praise in the process. It’s no surprise either. With access to some of the best Pinot Noir fruit in Napa, this cuvee is always good and in the 2022 vintage, that trend continues in a big, big way. It’s as juicy and concentrated as you could want it though with lots of grace. Medium to full-bodied with great balance, this is one flashy Pinot Noir.
94 Points, Tasting Panel
This is a really exciting new release in the collection of single-vineyards from the Wagner Family, and arguably the most interesting one of the bunch. This is the only Pinot Noir in the Caymus collection that has the advantage of being from a natural Pinot Noir haven in the Russian River Valley. Dairyman Vineyard’s proximity to the pacific ocean, with its morning fog and afternoon coastal breezes allows for an even and elongated growing season, with super concentrated and expressive grape clusters that help make this Dijon clone Pinot Noir one that you need.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Always the one with the most personality of the bunch, this is what Wine Enthusiast had to say about the 2021 release: “This extremely ripe and bold style of Pinot Noir will please those seeking such lushness. Dark in the glass, it begins with black cherry, toasty caramel and cola milk shake aromas.” The cool, coastal days and abundance of sunshine lines up perfectly for a wine that has a good natural acidic backbone, with bold fruit-forward flavors. In an easy 2021 vintage, Joe Wagner had a field day with this single-vineyard beauty.
This is rich, opulent, stunning Pinot Noir with a higher pH and a deeper, richer complexion than their Willamette neighbors. It’s a dead ringer for Russian River Valley. Deep red ruby color to the rim with high-toned red berry fruit soaring right out of the glass. It’s incredibly fresh with tremendous depth backed by fine tannins, bright acidity and amazing purity of fruit on the palate. It’s a finessed and elegant Pinot with just intensity and length. At this price, it may be the best Pinot in the country.
91 Points, James Suckling
The Bisol “Jeio” Prosecco NV is a delicious sparkler that comes from the Veneto region of northeast Italy. A brilliant straw yellow color, the first sip is an intense and fresh nose of citrus fruits and saline sensations. If you love fruit forward sparklers… this one is for you.
Fresh off a huge feature in The Wall Street Journal in which they were crowned as the top Prosecco Rose in a lineup of 14, I suspect what was once our little secret will explode. James Suckling also finally got around to tasting it and gave it 91 points. I’d rate it even higher. The 2021 Bisol Jeio Brut Prosecco Rosé is remarkable, and simply put, mouth-wateringly delicious. Inviting aromas of flowers and wild strawberries, with a complex mouthfeel that sings with citrus fruits and creaminess from the tiny crisp bubbles.
94 Points (#12 Whiskey of the Year), Whisky Advocate
“At the helm for Blue Run Spirits’ whiskeys are whiskey director Shaylyn Gammon and liquid advisor Jim Rutledge, who demonstrate their mastery with this blend of three Kentucky bourbons aged 6, 8, and 9 years. Oatmeal raisin cookies and tropical aromas dominate the nose, though dried pineapple is soon overtaken by cinnamon spice, vanilla bean, and grape jelly. The palate is rich with flavors of chocolate and espresso, then playful notes of raspberry syrup. Flourless chocolate cake, more fruit, and a good deal of heat make for a tantalizing finish.”
97 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This exquisite Chardonnay has been meticulously crafted to showcase the best of what California has to offer, with each sip promising a journey through layers of flavor and texture. The palate is greeted with rich notes of ripe tropical fruits, beautifully balanced by a refreshing acidity and a touch of oak. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a lasting impression that will linger on your palate long after the last drop is gone.
97 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 95 Points, Vinous – 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2019 Oublié is a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tannat and Petite Sirah with a medium ruby-purple color. The nose offers gregarious mixed berry preserves and accents of potpourri, mint and fragrant earth. The palate offers juicy appeal and powerful fruit with loads of spice and floral perfume, bursts of freshness and firm, pleasantly rustic tannins, finishing very long.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This is the very first 2024 installment of the limited production project from the Bourbon leaders, Booker’s and their iconic master distiller, Freddie Noe. They’re calling this batch ‘Springfield Batch’ as an homage to Booker Noe’s hometown in Kentucky where he was born and raised. This is a little bit of an older age statement than the last few in the series at 7 years, 7 months, and 8 days. It was bottled at 62% alc (124 Proof).
90 Points (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast – 90 Points, James Suckling
His 2021 Pinot Grigio Collio DOC is flat-out delicious. It’s got a little spice, it’s got depth yet somehow it’s still light and fresh. I’m not so sure this one even needs food. It just dances out of the glass on a hot, sunny day. I’d enjoy it slightly chilled in a tall, white wine glass, and just sit back and enjoy.
The other Trevor Sheehan and Bartholomew Broadbent project I was recently introduced to features today’s exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s North Coast at an insanely good price. It’s more than deserving of early recognition as Cabernet Value of the Year. While the year isn’t over yet, this is already proving its worth with its outstanding quality and unbeatable value.
This is my third private barrel of Bourbon that I sourced from Bulleit and my first since 2022. Believe you me, they give you a ton (and I mean a ton) of samples to go through to make up for lost time. The winning combo is something people are going to love. Allow me to introduce you to Barrel #5-B3-82. It’s smooth and layered, with a full creamy mouthfeel and manages to sneak in at 104 Proof. On the nose, I get fresh cut oak, vanilla and brown butter. On the palate, freshly baked banana bread, burnt orange and graham cracker.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 94 Points, James Suckling – 92 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The nose brings both fruit and warmth, as aromas of strawberries, cherries and hibiscus flirt with notes of dark chocolate, orange peel and stones basking in the sun. On the palate, a wave of cranberries brings astringency that freshens a persistent streak of stoniness, before the chocolate returns for the finish. The firm, imposing tannins creep up slowly, maintaining depth without weight.” -Wine Enthusiast
96 Points, Kerin O’Keefe – 95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 95 Points, Vinous
“Tobacco, truffle, violet and hints of mocha and cherry pie unfold on this beautiful Brunello. Classically crafted and elegantly structured, it delivers flavors of ripe Morello cherry, wild raspberry, baking spice and licorice alongside enveloping, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it nicely balanced. Drink 2028–2039. -Kerin O’Keefe
The 2021 Atlas Peak Cabernet is a classic. It’s black in color, with a dynamic nose of cassis, cedar, and chocolate-tinged purple fruit. The wine is fabulously concentrated with a firm, solid finish that speaks to its potential for considerable aging. Ry hit this one out of the park.
The 2021 Napa Valley East side Cuvee is an instant classic. From the first whiff to the moment it hits the lips, its clear that this is a fabulously concentrated, serious wine: black in color, and featuring aromas of cassis, cedar and chocolate-tinged purple fruit. The mouthfeel is plush and voluptuous with a firm, solid finish that speaks to its potential for considerable aging.
91 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 91 Points, James Suckling
The baseline Malbec is a killer value – a Big Red that hits far beyond its modest price tag. Double 91 points from both James Suckling and Parker’s Wine Advocate, with the latter calling it a “nice combination of spice, berry and herbs to make it balanced, expressive and attractive.”
Our special relationship with the Wagner family has granted us incredible access for the Caymus Family’s newest release – the California Cabernet! Realizing that the costs of the Napa Valley were continuing to rise at a rapid rate, the Wagners focused on finding an answer – a classic, opulent, powerful dark-fruited Cabernet that comes from more regions than just Napa. With the Wagner’s long list of vineyards and resources, it couldn’t make any more sense. This is a textbook, full-bodied, Caymus Cabernet, that is the next big hit for the family.
It’s always nice to be in good standing with one of the most beloved wine brands in America! These won’t last long! This is an opulent, powerful dark-fruited Cabernet with tightly woven tannins, that is just raring and ready to go. Textbook, full-bodied, revved up and ready to go, this new Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet is the definition of a crowd pleaser.
The 2021 Walking Fool is a beauty that is as big as its ever been in the fantastic 2021 vintage in and around Napa. This baby was aged for 18 months in a blend of both neutral and new and American and French Oaks. The American oak is what takes this wine to the next level– adding expressive aromas of sweet spice and earth. It’s a BIG RED with jammy cherry and blackberry fruits, licorice, brown sugar, and notes of toasted oak.
97 Points (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast
“Quietly powerful, dense with alluring oak spices and late-picked fruit flavors, this full-bodied, velvet-textured Cabernet-dominant blend is generous and inviting to drink, but also balanced and structured for the long haul. Concentrated, deep and layered, it is meant for drinking with appreciative friends or family in the future. Best from 2027–2040.”
100 Points, Robert Parker, Jr. – 100 Points, Lisa Perotti-Brown – 100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus.” -Robert Parker, Jr.
95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 94 Points, Vinous
The 2005 Château Barde-Haut Saint-Emilion is the one you want. They totally outdid themselves in this vintage and I’d say that without the 95 and 94-point reviews. It’s just a gorgeous wine at an incredible price that over delivers every step of the way. Think black fruits, hints of spice, and an elegant structure that’s singing right now. It’s no wonder this wine is sought after by collectors.
95 Points, James Suckling – 95 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 94 Points, Decanter
“The 2019 Cantemerle has a fruit-driven bouquet with opulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, certainly one of the most floral in the flight with pressed violets developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, fleshy and rounded, though I am looking for more tension and precision on the finish. This is a really fabulous Cantemerle that surely represents outstanding value. No excuse not to have this in your cellar.”
95 Points, Decanter
The terroir here is exceptional – gravel terroir with some limestone and clay deposits, making it an ideal place for healthy, expressive vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that gets picked off here are so fresh and vibrant, they basically demand to be fermented in cement so as not to let oak interfere with expressions this pure.
96 Pts, Vinous – 95 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck – 94 Pts, Wine Spectator – 94 Pts, James Suckling – 93+ Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2019 Gloria has a compelling nose: black fruit, crushed rocks, tobacco and very subtle marine scents that are all beautifully combined. Perhaps the most precise and delineated nose among an impressive array of Saint-Julien’s this year. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively opening. A touch of soy infuses the black fruit; fine-boned with wonderful sapidity on the finish. Extraordinary length. Serious.”
99-100 Points, James Suckling – 98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“So aromatic and fresh with black olives, black truffles, gravel and dried flowers. Milk chocolate. Ovaltine. Full-bodied with fantastic old-vine tannins. Layered and very structured. Goes deep and down. One for the cellar. Superb. Maybe the best ever.” -James Suckling
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 94 Points, Decanter
“The flagship 2018 Château Lagrange is a more dense, backward, serious wine, offering an unevolved yet incredibly promising bouquet of cassis, blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and violets. A big, rich, full-bodied Saint-Julien, it delivers thrilling purity of fruit, plenty of background oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a great mid-palate. This is serious stuff, but it’s going to require patience. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades.” -Jeb Dunnuck
92 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck – 92 Pts, James Suckling – 91 Pts, Decanter – 90 Pts, Vinous – 90 Pts, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This beauty earned five reviews of 90 points or more, with the Wine Advocate writing in their 90-point review how this one “punches above its weight, offering a level of quality and complexity that belies its price point.” That is an emphatic way to end a review. 91 more points from Jane Ansen of Decanter to go along with 92 from James Suckling, who called it “fresh and crunchy with racy acidity.” Then there’s Antonio Galloni who made this his #1 White Bordeaux Value of the Year. Needless to say, this is a no-brainer white you should be loading up on by the case.
90 Points, James Suckling
Damien has crafted a delicious Médoc, full of character with dense black currant and cherry fruit, cedar, tobacco and wonderful complexity. It’s silky complexion is what pushes it over the edge (and, of course, the price!) It doesn’t hurt that it comes from a 95-point Left Bank vintage that the Wine Advocate declared, “outstanding.”
95 Points, Decanter – 94+ pts, Robert Parker
“A more classic year than the 2003 or 2005 on either side, really showing beautifully right now, still young but full of promise, tension and juice. This is an extremely elegant, balanced Palmer, with dark berry fruits, cassis and blackberry, touch of campfire smoke, salinity and plenty of juice running through the muscular tannins. Plays with you on the finish, stretching out its flavours, salivating, totally gorgeous, surprisingly so for a vintage that can get overlooked. One that you could happily open now, or hold for another decade or more.”
Winemaker Pascal Sirat consistently puts out some of the best value Bordeaux in the region but he may have outdone himself in what was a stellar 2019 vintage throughout the region. Just south of Pomerol, the vines at Panchille borrow deep in the soil. The resulting wines are ripe but fresh, with an aromatic complexity and stony finish usually reserved for wine twice the price. Daniel Boulud tells me it’s been the hottest bottle of wine at Bar Boulud for over a month, so I figured I’d better hurry up and secure my allocation! Don’t miss it.
From the famous family behind Peyrassol, comes a new Cotes du Provence smash hit. The wine is pale pink in color with notes of small wild berries on the nose complemented by a hint of juniper. This spiciness lends weight to the liveliness on the palate reminiscent of exotic citrus fruits, creating a crisp, harmonious and refreshing ensemble. Spice lingers on the palate for a full and round finish.
92 Points (Cellar Selection), Wine Enthusiast
The 2019 vintage of Château Puyanche is their best and highest rated to date. It boasts a harmonious blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cab, showcasing a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate. Expect to be greeted by notes of ripe black fruits, subtle spices, and a hint of oak, all wrapped up in a silky-smooth texture that lingers long after each sip. This is one that is great now, but somehow, even at this price-point offers years more of excellent drinking.
90+ Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“This estate in Saint-Christoly-Médoc has long produced great value, quintessentially Médoc-styled wines, and the 2016 La Tour St Bonnet has turned out especially well. Offering up aromas of sweet blackcurrant fruit intermingled with notions of loamy soil, tobacco leaf and vanilla pod, it’s medium to full-bodied, with powdery tannins and a nicely concentrated core of fruit. Robert Parker once described this estate as producing a miniature Grand-Puy-Lacoste, and that observation continues to resonate with me. While the 2016 drinks well today, a bit more time in the cellar will only pay dividends.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 99 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 99 Points, Lisa Perotti-Brown
“Pure perfection in a glass, the incredible 2009 Troplong Mondot offers off the chart notes of blackcurrants, licorice, truffles and saddle leather that just soar from the glass. This is a big, ripe, incredibly sexy wine that hits the palate with a huge texture, building, ripe tannin, no weight, and a finish that just won’t quit. Utterly brilliant stuff, it’s slightly more approachable than the 2005, but both of these vintages play in the same style. Drink bottles anytime over the coming two to three decades. Bravo!” -Jeb Dunnuck
98 Points, James Suckling – 97 Points, Lisa Perotti-Brown – 97 Points, Vinous
“This is a very linear red and layered at the same time, showing blackberry, blueberry, black-truffle, bark and stone character. Chalk and minerality, too. It’s full-bodied and well framed with gorgeous intensity and freshness. Muscular with wonderful structure and brightness. Salty and savory notes on the finish. Try after 2024.” -James Suckling
Year in, year out Château Turcaud produces one of the best white wine values in the world. It’s long been found on Michelin-starred wine lists in Paris and we’ve had it at the restaurant since Day 1. If you’ve ever tried this stunning, classic Bordeaux of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle, then you know why. The new 2022 vintage has arrived and it’s beaming with energy and pure stone fruits. This is a beauty as always.
We’re nearing the end of what was a flawlessly crafted, high energy coastal Chardonnay release from one of California’s hottest spots. It’s still every bit as bright and refreshing as you could want and it hits with clean, pristine green apple fruits, pears and citrus notes with a hint of that limestone-influenced minerality. It’s a fantastic wine for all seasons, the perfect pair with mixed seafood, summer tomatoes, corn and freshly caught fish.
92 Points, Wine Spectator – 91 Points, James Suckling
“Rich yet succulent and open-knit, this red delivers strawberry, cherry, earth, tobacco and licorice flavors allied to a fine structure. Shows excellent balance and length.” -Wine Spectator
The rolling hills of Vias along the Mediterranean coast is the perfect place to grow special, meaningful Pinot Noir that doesn’t break the bank. For one, the coastal breezes as we’ve seen time and again are essential for building beautiful natural acidity. But then there’s also the rocky volcanic soil that Comtesse Marion is treated to in the Languedoc. That gives the wine a depth of flavors and great concentration but without too much weight. The vines are also all over 30 years in age, an advantage over their peers for sure.
92 Points, James Suckling
This Big Red completely sings with high-toned fruit, a wonderful natural acidity from the elevation, and super-clean, super-concentrated black and blue fruits. You get the blackberry, blueberry, and violet treatment at first with chewy tannins, a hint of minerality, and a juicy, lingering finish.
This champagne is so good, it’s often a staple on the wine lists of Michelin two and three star restaurants. It offers elegant aromatics, pristine fruit and the crisp, mineral finish that screams for food. We loved it so much, we asked Jacques Diebolt to bottle a special cuveé for the restaurant– and he happily agreed, but unfortunately it sold out like hot cakes. No matter, here is old faithful. Just as delicious and memorable as I remember it.
94 Points (Best Buy), Wine & Spirits
“Deep in color and vinous in its red fruit, this is a spicy and compelling rosé. There’s pristine strawberry flavor at its core, surrounded by accents of red grapefruit, blood orange and fennel. The wine’s intensity rises like its bubbles from base note to high notes, leaving a pale red fruit ghosting in the finish.”
93 Points, Vinous – 92 Points, James Suckling
This is an extraordinary Sauvignon Blanc and not just by New Zealand standards – but period. The wines are hand-crafted (no mechanical harvesting, which is very rare here) from organic estate fruit grown on some of the oldest vines and best sites in Marlborough. It’s tantalizingly good Sauvignon Blanc that delivers what Vinous perfectly describes as both “focus and punch.”
Glistening pale yellow-green to the rim, infused with mouth-watering aromas of ripe apple, pear and quince, and crushed almonds with honey and rich creamy middle and a fantastic rush of acidity and minerality that are present throughout. A calling card of Bonhomme’s Vire-Clesse, if you closed your eyes and took a sip, it would have you convinced you were drinking Meursault at least a 3x price tag.
The 2022 Domaine Bernard Defaix Petit Chablis is a ringer. Whether you’re a seasoned Chablis enthusiast or just beginning to explore the world of French wines, the 2022 Domaine Bernard Defaix Petit Chablis is a must-try. With its crisp acidity, vibrant fruit flavors, and chalky minerality, this wine is a true expression of the terroir of Chablis, and in a bright and highly energetic style.
2022 was an absolutely perfect vintage in this respect and unfortunately, I think it will be one of the last, if not THE last. As winegrower Jean-Marc Brocard reported to Decanter: “When we taste the wines, we feel that the balance between acidity and ripeness is very good. It’s a classic style of Chablis. In the end, even after such a heat during summertime, we stay in a cool year reference.” He also alluded to the ageability of the vintage, saying “Let’s give them time, we must let nature do its work.”
Lydia Cornu’s newly released Haut-Côtes-du-Beaune is quintessential Red Burgundy. It’s made from super old vines and a low yield, with no new oak in the aging process. The wine is an absolute joy to drink– a bowl full of berries on the nose, high-toned, racy fruit in the mid palate with the structure and length that is the hallmark of Cornu-Camus wines. It’s delicious now and will be delicious in a decade. It’s the kind of Red Burgundy value that is ridiculous hard to match.
For years now, I’ve been absolutely delighted by the White Burgundies at Domaine Corsin. There’s really good reason for that. The Corsin’s holdings in Pouilly-Fuissé include many of the best situated sites in the appellation. This wine comes from a selection of older vines grown in these limestone soils. The current vintage is simply showing fantastic at the moment. The 2020 Corsin Domain’s Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Vieilles Vignes’ displays a bright golden hue with a hint of green. Its subtle bouquet with a woody-vanilla note enhances the slightly sharp, sophisticated fullness on the palate mingled with a generous underlying impression of toasted bread.
99 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 96 Points, Decanter
“The flagship from this great estate is the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Boisrenard, which is based on 80% Grenache and small doses of 17 other varieties. This deeply hued beauty offers a stunning bouquet of blackberries, scorched earth, licorice, ground pepper, and sappy garrigue. I always find a Burgundian-like texture on this wine, and the 2020 is no exception – this is one to put into a blind tasting of Grand Cru Red Burgundies and shock your friends. Medium to full-bodied, ultra-pure, with grippy, sappy tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish, it’s pure class all the way. It’s going to need at least 4-6 years of bottle age, but this is a wine you don’t want to miss, and one of the finest wines I’ve tasted from this estate.” -Jeb Dunnuck
96 Points, Vinous – 97 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 94 Points, Decanter
“The 2014 Domaine de Chevalier is a total knockout. Precise, brilliant and finely sculpted, the 2014 possesses superb intensity. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red berries, along with finessed but persistent tannins, give the wine its regal personality. The 2014 needs a number of yeras to shed some baby fat and develop the full breadth of its aromatics, but it is a fabulous wine by any measure. The 2014 is 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.” -Antonio Galloni
Winemaker Patrick Brunet’s tiny Domaine Robert estate consists of 50-60 year old vines, deeply rooted in the granitic soils of Fleurie. What I love about him is that every vintage brings something new but it consistently stays excellent. For his 2022 cuvee, Patrick produced a concentrated, structured Beaujolais that’s roaring out of the gates but with the bones to improve in the bottle over the next decade. This is always a fantastic bottle to have around.
This is truly of Sancerre’s greatest wines. It’s an incredible effort in a fantastic vintage for Sancerre in general, but even more so for my friend Dominique Roger. His single parcel ‘La Jouline’ is considered the Grand Cru vineyard of Bue. It’s crafted from 60-year old vines and given an extra year in bottle, adding incredible layers and complexity in the process. Tiny yields followed by partial barrel fermentation creates a wine with complex aromatics, explosive flavors, and a mineral-laced finish that makes it both incredible at the table with rich cuisine or a great candidate for short term aging.
Simply stunning. An incredible effort in arguably the greatest Sancerre vintage since 1947, Dominique’s single vineyard ‘Les Deserts’ is considered the Grand Cru vineyard of Bue. It’s a dead ringer for Premier Cru Chablis; it’s that complex. How when it’s Sauvignon Blanc? Well, the vines of Les Deserts are rooted in Kimmeridgian rock, the same soil you find in the best vineyards of Chablis. It’s full-bodied with a chalky minerality and a beautiful, vibrant intensity. This will forever change the way you view Sancerre. It really is that good.
It’s an electric white Burgundy, with a limestone-laced aromatic profile of green apple, pear and hazelnut. Refined and high-toned, the pure, delicious fruit that is a hallmark of this terrific vintage, finishes long and fresh, with a mile-long mineral streak.
93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
This is a Nicholas Faithful favorite. Even though it’s technically a non-vintage it was last disgorged in the 2020 vintage. La Cravantine, is a sparkling rosé of 100% Cabernet Franc, bone-dry, super fresh and with bubbles so tiny and fine, it puts most “real” Champagne to shame. Appealing strawberry and mineral scents are encased in a firm structure with a dry and spicy quality in the palate. This wine is incredibly versatile – perfect with just about any fish, fried food, or do like I do and enjoy it on it’s own.
90 Points, Wine Spectator
Domaine Jaume Vinsobres Altitude 420 is an old-vine Grenache-Syrah blend from vineyards planted in Les Collines at some of the highest points in the Rhône. The Jaumes have farmed these dizzying elevations at their estate in Vinsobres for 100+ years. The 2020 is one of his best yet, pristine and fresh, a bowl full of berried-up fruit yet with the tension and length that belies its humble price. Incredible bang for the buck, tailor-made for anyone’s house red, and a slam dunk for any kind of meat on the bone.
The newly released 2022 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin has some big shoes to fill as the last four vintages have earned 92-points or higher, but the early indications are that this is line with previous vintages if not even a little bit ahead at this stage. The problem is – there’s almost none to go around with much smaller yields. Still this is beautiful and crisp, with good focus, energy and depth. I get the signature green fruits on the nose, with some Asian pear, and a hint of jasmine blossom. There’s a beautiful mineral streak that highlights this one. It’s a fantastic White Burg for the price.
The secret to Philippe’s tightly wound, complex Pinot Noir is a combo of ancient vines, natural farming techniques, and low yields. The wines are built to age, with incredible tension and length. And the secret to me securing his other-wordly 2017 old-vine Gevry-Chambertin can be chalked up to a great relationship and over a decade supporting superior Burgundian winemaking. The wine is scary good. The nose is wild, filled with spiced dark raspberries, red flowers, and baking spices. The palate is elegant and racy, with a dynamic tension that runs right through its minute-long finish. This is a high-toned, wound-up Pinot, that is starting to hit its prime and is really turning out to be a ‘must-have’ for true Burgundy lovers.
The Bernard Reverdy Sancerre Rose 2022 is gorgeous. A beautiful pale pink to the brim, this baby is fresh and super aromatic with a complex nose of citrus, wild strawberries and white flowers. With air, higher tones emerge, with a great mingling of ripe fruit, and stony minerality. Medium-bodied, fresh and focused on the palate, with concise limestone-drive acidity, this is an elegant, lively, and energetic Sancerre Rose that mirrors the warm vintage but also the old vines rooting deep in stony soils. This is so much better than your run-of-the mill Rose – it’s an ageworthy, food-friendly Rose
Their 2022 ‘Les Vignes Silex’ Sancerre is a fantastic bottle of Sancerre and comes way less than anything you’re going to see with ‘Silex on the label. For those of you who don’t know silex soil, it’s a unique flinty clay soil that’s cut with limestone, which absolutely sings with Sauvignon Blanc. It imparts distinctive mineral qualities to the grapes, resulting in wines that are vibrant, complex, and incredibly expressive.
The newly released 2022 HHH Cabernet is showing beautifully already even in its infancy. There’s a lot of structure and depth to the wine that sets up well as it starts to hit its prime. It leads with notes of raspberry, cranberry, cocoa and blackberry pie, with a rich palate of velvety tannins and the lip-smacking acidity so often associated with the better wines of the region.
The juice here is so pure and elegant, it tastes much more like a $80/bottle of Tequila than one going for half the price, but that’s why I love these single barrel deals so much. The value is insane. This Reposado spent just under 12 months in used bourbon barrels. Golden brown with fresh agave, oak & vanilla. Remarkably smooth finish. This is one of those oddball tequila’s that is good enough to just sip on the rocks but cheap enough to use to make one hell of a margarita.
97 Points, Vinous
“The 2020 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a heady, almost exotic wine. Harvest took place on October 17, very late for the year. Hard candy, kirsch, menthol, dried rose petal, mint and blood orange infuse the 2020 with striking depth. The tannins, often incisive here, are remarkably polished. A wine of beautiful nuance and persistence, the 2020 Gavarini is not the most obvious wine in this range, but it could very well be the classiest. Don’t miss it!”
96 Points, Antonio Galloni- Vinous
“The 2020 Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate is gorgeous. Aromatically captivating and nuanced, the 2020 impresses right out the gate. All the classic Ginestra signatures are present. Today, the tannins are pretty imposing in the positive sense, as they are present, but also impeccably balanced within the wine’s frame. This is impressive stuff.” – Antonio Galloni
Soon to be Rated
“The 50% Moscato Bianco, 50% Brachetto is one of the most distinctive sweet wines in all of Italy. Exotic floral and spice accents soar out of the glass. Rose petal, mint, sage, dried herbs and hard candy play off bright acids and an overall feeling of crystalline energy.” -Antonio Galloni
93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2021 Barbera d’Alba Bricco dei Merli shows a beautifully fruity, almost juicy personality that paints an authentic portrait of this grape. The Congo winemaking team has worked out its approach to elegant wines. This Barbera does not show any of the excesses, like sourness or too much acidity, that can sometimes characterize Barbera when made in less capable hands.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Etienne Daulny is the latest in a very long line of Daulnys to farm Sauvignon Blanc near the tiny hamlet of Verdigny in the appellation of Sancerre. He is currently in charge of farming over twenty small parcels including some incredibly well respected fifty-year-old vines. This is a classic Sancerre, aromatically dynamic, with intense fruit, distinct minerality and blazing acidity. It’s the white wine we drink most often at home. Beautiful structure and length to this with a youthful vibrancy that shines throughout.
It has that vibrant and jammy mix of red and dark fruits with great structure and tannins and a sleek core. It’s a BIG RED that dances in the glass and with a very modest price tag. It’s such an easy ‘buy’.
94 Points, James Suckling – 92 Points, Wine Spectator
“Scented nose with dark cherries, blueberries, dried thyme, plums, bark, roasted meat and baking spices following through to a medium to full body with finely grained tannins. Elegant and textural with a velvety core of juicy and crunchy berries on the mid-palate mingling with herbs and spices in harmony. Well-composed with a precise long finish.” -James Suckling
2019 WE CS #7
97 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
Far Niente’s beloved Napa Valley Cabernet comes from a who’s who of the best vineyard sites throughout Napa Valley. It’s a seamless Cabernet blend sourced from Oakville, Stag’s Leap, Diamond Mountain, St. Helena, Calistoga, Oak Knoll and the winery’s estate fruit in Yountville. The 2021 vintage is a particular high note – it’s a must-have for Big Red, Napa and Cabernet lovers.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The Far Niente Chardonnay 2022 offers outstanding aging potential. While undeniably delicious now, cellaring this wine will unveil further complexities and nuanced layers of flavor. Let this Chardonnay evolve into a symphony of dried apricot, honeyed notes, and a lingering, exquisitely satisfying finish.
95 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Wine Spectator – 93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
The new release is here from outstanding winemaking team of Michel Rolland, Charles Thomas, Andy Erickson and David Jelenik. This one always represents one of the best quality-to-price ratios in all of Napa Cab and in the stellar 2021 vintage, this really stands out as one of the best the Valley has to offer. It’s a racy mix of Coombsville fruit from Atlas Peak that absolutely roars out of the bottle. Always one of Napa’s great bargains and a must have even as the price starts to sneak up here a little bit.
Winemaker Kian Tavakoli (Opus One, Clos du Val) continues to excel even while others struggle. In 2017, he still managed to deliver a beautiful and opulent Napa Valley Cabernet that’s both dark and juicy. The wine hails from both Coombsville and Rutherford, giving it distinct characteristics and a lot of drive. Deep ruby to the rim with excellent concentration, notes of Bing cherries, raspberry pie and hints of vanilla. On the palate, big wonderfully jammy fruit with young but impressive tannins and great length. The finish leaves notes of black cherry, and baked blueberry pie. Fantastic Napa value.
From two New Jersey natives comes something special from Napa Valley. First the Faustini’s bought grapes from the historic Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard for their first test batch. Next they brought in Opus One & Clos du Val alum Kian Tavakoli to head up the winemaking. Throw in an outrageously good 2015 vintage in Napa and what you have is the recipe for a knockout wine that is starting to come into its own and will be great for the next 10-20 years!
The 2016 vintage in Napa was nearly perfect for winemaker Kian Tavakoli (Opus One, Clos du Val). With ideal weather all throughout harvest, he crafted the Faustini Money Road Chardonnay off the famous vineyard located in the coveted Oakville AVA. The picturesque vineyard off Oakville Crossroad is platinum rated, known for its ideal combination of soil & climate and the big A list names that routinely source fruit. Kian’s Money Road Chard is still youthful despite having a few years of age, probably as a result of its 18 months of slumber in 1/4 new Oak.
94 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Wine Spectator – 93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Vinous
“A juicy and pretty wine with berries, chocolate, and bark. Subtle. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are slightly chewy and austere now but will soften nicely with age.” -James Suckling
The newly released Fiancetto Howell Mt. Cabernet is a dream – a gorgeous, elegant dark-fruited Cabernet Sauvignon that is it picks up time in the glass, unfurls its full signature of cedar laced cassis nose and mid palate of chocolate-covered cherries and savory spices. Only four palates of this (224 cases) were made off a gorgeous, sprawling high elevation spot 1500 feet above sea level. It’s full and plush and finishes fresh and oh so long. The price is crazy for Howell Mountain Cabernet but that’s what Ry Richards and Fiancetto is all about.
The longtime winemaker atop Pritchard Hill, made a gorgeous, well-polished Napa Valley Cabernet with a core of dark cassis fruit with just the right touch of new oak. Long on the palate and slow to unwind in the glass, the Fiancetto 2021 is absolutely packed with blue and black fruits.
This is a super elegant Meursault from the family-run estate located in the village of Monthelie, between Volnay and Meursault in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune. It leads with nutty aromas of brioche, fresh butter and delicate citrus and is extremely well structured, long and stylish with great purity of fruit.
94 Points, James Suckling – 93 Points, Decanter
“Soaring lemon cream aromatics accented by notes of sea spray, lemongrass and beeswax mark this coastal Chardonnay from Flowers on the Sonoma Coast. The palate is fresh and linear. Oyster shell salinity, bee pollen and grilled lemon make for a savoury balance with delicate crushed chalk minerality.”
93 Points, James Suckling – 92 Points, Decanter
“Delicious, fresh, and savoury, this juicy Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast has violet and smoky flint aromatics buoyed by fresh red berries and a kiss of fresh mint. The palate is reflective, with flinty minerality coming to the fore. Pine sap, notes of fresh evergreen and lovely red fruits, clove and white peppery spice to finish.”
93 Points, Tasting Panel – 90 Points, Wine Spectator
This Kiwi gem is the Sauvignon Blanc of dreams, with tropical fruit, citrus, and herb aromas that will make your nose dance. And the taste? It’s like a party in your mouth – so refreshing and complex, with just the right amount of acidity and richness.
Drawn from the heart of Tuscany, in Villa di Rèmole, the Sangiovese-dominant wine is an homage to the subregion from which it is drawn. It’s a super juicy, fruity wine that also has some floral and spicier notes that come in to play at the end. It’s an incredibly balanced and elegant wine for the price, a wine that screams for good food, anything from soft cheese to cured meats to pasta or pizza.
94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2019 Barolo opens to good balance between tart berry fruit and secondary aromas of toasted spice. Spaced out nicely in between are floral tones, crushed stone and rusty nail. The wine shows rich concentration and lots of dark fruit, yet it also gives room for the more nuanced and fleeting side of Nebbiolo. There is a salty or mineral note that adds a feeling of dryness to the polished finish.”
One of my favorite places to look for great Tuesday nighters are the sandy, limestone-laden hills of Asti. Although it is better known for the Moscato, Grignolino should be its calling card because in almost no places of the world does it thrive like it does here. Gianni Doglia naturally farms a tiny estate in the picturesque hamlet of Castagnole Lanze. His Grignolino is the product of 50+ year old vines, vinfied without oak to preserve its incredible fruit. Light in color to the core, bright and wonderfully aromatic, this is food-friendly red wine that can double just as well all on its own.
One of the best places to look for great Tuesday nighters are the sandy, limestone-laden hills of Asti. And within Asti, there is no white wine calling card that holds a candle to Moscato. Here it is king. Gianni Doglia naturally farms a tiny estate in the picturesque hamlet of Castagnole Lanze. His Moscato is the product of old vines, vinfied without oak to preserve its incredible fruit. This is serious, high-quality and hand-harvested Moscat, that oozes with sweet tropical fruits and a hint of minerality that stays on your tongue with each sip. This is also the perfect wine for anyone searching for a low alcohol option as well.
As soon as you take the first sip on this one, you can easily see the Burgundian connection. Doglia’s Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato 2022 is medium bodied with scents of fresh cut lavender. On the palate, it’s an absolute delight, full of flavor but with an acid backbone that make it perfect to pair with almost any cuisine. Notes of wild fruits and a touch of pepper are just so good. This is a silky smooth, delicious bottle of wine.
#1 Whisky of the Year (2023) – Whisky Advocate
“Our annual Top 20 Whiskies list is always filled with A-list names, along with a few lesser-knowns that make the grade. But it’s unusual for one of the latter to outshine the entire field, yet that’s precisely what happened this year, as Whisky Advocate’s panelists plucked a relative unknown from a group of big-name contenders. As we tasted, little did we know there was an upset in the making. Winning in a nearly unanimous vote, single malt scotch Glenglassaugh Sandend became our 2023 Whisky of the Year.” -Whisky Advocate
94 Points, Vinous
In the 2018 vintage in Napa, a vintage that Forbes’ Tom Hyland called “a truly outstanding vintage”, Groth’s Oakville Cabernet is absolutely gorgeous. It’s remarkably fresh, with great acidity and tannic structure and plenty of ageability. Antonio Galloni didn’t stop at just calling the wine “fabulous” , going as far to say that the wine “shows the important strides that have been made [at Groth] in recent years.”
This is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes primarily from St. Helena and Oakville with the rest coming from Calistoga. The wine was made by a super competent winemaking team (also protected by an NDA) who is often highly decorated. They saw their estate wines see a chorus of 96-99 point scores in the 2021 vintage, and it’s easy to see why with how stinkin’ good this is.
#3 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021
96 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 95 Points, Wine Spectator
We are one of the very few folks who have Wine Spectator’s #3 Wine of the Year. This is definitely not one to miss. The 2016 vintage showcases this prized vineyard in all its glory; notes of wild black fruit, thyme, mint, eucalyptus, and bay are lifted and enjoyed with the polished tannin and mouthwatering freshness of this wine. Regarded as one of the best vintages in the last few decades, the 2016 Martha’s Vineyard has been aged to perfection for immediate enjoyment at release and will continue to reward for the next 20+ years.
Hirsch Vineyards has never been making better wine than they are right now. They’re completely locked in and that’s why they just received a perfect 100-point score for one of their single-vineyard new releases. Another gem in the portfolio, the 2022 Bohan-Dillon Pinot is a brilliant wine, a high-toned, fresh and elegant Pinot that perfectly represents those precariously perched vineyards that line the famed Bohan-Dillon Road of the Sonoma Coast. There are tons of quaffable red fruits here with a silky mouthfeel and a lot of energy. With the weather cooling down a bit, It is a perfect choice to drink in a glass by itself or with just about anything in the kitchen. It’s a special wine.
98 Points, Vinous
“The 2021 Pinot Noir Ygnacia Hyde Vineyard is another magnificent wine from Hyde De Villaine. Vertical, deep and explosive, the 2021 possesses tremendous depth from start to finish. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, pomegranate, and spice notes are all beautifully amplified. The 2021 was done with fully destemmed fruit, sourced from 2.5 acres planted in 2010 with four different selections. What stands out most in the wine’s natural concentration.” -Vinous
This is a fantastic Menetou-Salon that is bursting with energy and minerality. It’s one of those quintessential bottlings from the tiny region that perfectly exemplifies the early sweet and stone fruit flavors that you get backed by some racy acidty and an absolutely to die for mineral streak. This one comes from the coveted Kimmeridgian limestone terroir and vines that are all at least 40 years in age. That gives this so much energy, concentration and lift – it’s a treat!
At J Vineyards, Nicole is nothing short of a magician, making 30 different skus or more each vintage between her Pinots, Chardonnays, and Sparkling wines. For the vineyard’s flagship Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, up to 100 individual small lots are combined to make this great wine. Somehow, the blend is effortless–a quintessential RRV Pinot that has those soaring aromatics, bright red fruits, clove, and nutmeg spice with perfect balance.
93 Points, Decanter
“The Jonvive wines come from their Moon Dust Estate Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills, a cool site even by Russian River Valley standards. Lushly aromatic with notes of chicory, sumac and loads of wild berries. The palate is fresh but well-structured. Red rasperberries, fresh mint, and savory smoke follow the flavors of cloves. Delcious, but youthful with the structure to continue to develop over the next 8 to 10 years.”
This is an extraordinary chance to lock into two of the best vintages of Jordan Cabernet ever made. This is one of California’s iconic producers of Cabernet, and both the 2009 and 2010 vintages were like a dream come true for superstar winemaker Rob Davis. Most of these bottles are long gone, but luckily I manage to snag enough to offer up a 2009, 2010 side-by-side Library vertical. These will fly out the door!
97 Points, James Suckling
“Aromas of bark, dark cherries and flowers, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with purity of fruit that runs the length of the wine. It goes on for minutes. Very fine tannins. From organically grown grapes. Needs three or four years to completely come together, but gorgeous. Drink after 2026.” -James Suckling
93 Points, Decanter
The 2022 vintage is a standout, with critics and wine enthusiasts alike praising its complexity and balance. On the nose, expect to find inviting aromas of red berries, floral notes, and a hint of spice, while the palate is greeted with flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, and a touch of earthiness. The wine’s silky-smooth texture and vibrant acidity make it a joy to drink, with a long, lingering finish that will leave you craving more.
97 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 97 Points, Decanter
“Alessandro Mori’s wines are easy to spot in a blind tasting thanks to the soaring intensity and vibrant Sangiovese aromas they display. They are truly one of a kind. A wine that sees a relatively short and hot fermentation, the Il Marroneto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino respects local winemaking tradition and remains true in spirit. The steep verticality of the bouquet evokes almost-carbonic or lifted aromas of bright cherry, strawberry shortcake, lilac and heritage rose. You get straight to the heart of Sangiovese. The tannins are extremely fine and powdery and the freshness of the fruit is beautifully intact. This wine really pops in 2019.”
The fruit of her vision and labor can be found in her 2020 Vigno Tinto, which showcases wild-red berry fruit and savory aromatics of baking spice and red flowers. In the mouth, the fruit is pure, complex, and layered, with tension and length that belies its humble price point. It is remarkable wine for the money, a home-run quality-price-ratio opportunity that should be your house red.
This one comes from very old vines in eight different lieux-dits, with the largest portion coming from Le Fourneau. Harvest is all by hand, and this wine sees 18 months in barrels with only 10% new oak. Clement (rightfully) believes that keeping the oak primarily neutral here brings out the most authentic and intense expression of his Pinot Noirs. Take a sip or two of this and you will know exactly what I mean.
This delightful Red Burg is not only delicious but also comes at an exceptional price, priced under $20 per bottle – something you don’t find very often in Burgundy anymore. It’s a total steal for a Kermit Lynch wine, the famous importer known for finding wines outstanding quality and character. It’s fruity, it’s fun and it’s so easy to drink. This is one of those wines best served slightly chilled. It’s a go-to spring/summer red.
Maison Foucher makes their ‘Petit Le Mont’ Sancerre with grapes from the villages of Sancerre, Chavignol (near Monts Damnés) and d’Amignyt just like the big brother bottling. The only difference is those are always blended with some Sauvignon Blanc from outside Sancerre’s town lines in Touraine, so Sancerre isn’t on the label, which cuts the price and automatically turns this into one of the most killer values anywhere. With wonderfully chalky limestone soil, the wines have a solid core, with a wonderful roundness as well as that irresistible mineral streak. I get bright, steely notes of green apple, some stone fruit, jasmine blossom and green melon with soaring aromatics. This is one of those wines that grows on you with each sip and is hard to put down.
96 Points, Vinous
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard is fabulous. It emerges from a terraced vineyard at 1,800 feet in elevation in Napa Valley, just above the Coombsville AVA. Rich, dark and beautifully structured, the 2021 possesses notable pedigree and character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, bay leaf and espresso all race across the palate. Readers who enjoy old-school Napa Cabernets will adore this. This wine, if sold in Napa Valley, would cost four to five times as much.” -Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino from Aleramici hits all the right notes. It has a nice medium weight to it with easy drinking cherry, creme de cassis and purple fruits. It’s multi-dimensional with waves of some dark plum and blackberry with more sage and spice components as well that compliment it perfectly.
97 Points, Wine Spectator – 96 Points, Decanter
“Antinori’s 2007 Tignanello is wonderfully ripe and seductive in its dark cherries, flowers, spices, tobacco, sage, cedar, mint and minerals. This is as opulent a Tignanello as I have ever tasted but there is just enough acidity and structure from the Sangiovese to keep things from going over the top. The dense, muscular fruit follows through to an impeccable finish with no hard edges and impossibly fine, silky tannins. Simply put, the 2007 is a magnificent Tignanello.”
95 Points, Vinous – 95 Points, James Suckling
“Kirsch, rose petal, pomegranate, exotic spices and mint are woven together in a fabric of notable class in the 2011 Tignanello. An exotic wine that captures the essence of the year, the 2011 is endowed with magnificent complexity, nuance and class. The silky, polished finish makes the 2011 incredibly appealing today, but the wines from this site have always aged very well. The 2011 is going to need time to shed some of its baby fat, but it will always remain extroverted and racy to the core. I can’t wait to see how the 2011 ages.” -Vinous
The wine is so dang good, nearly every single one of my staff tried to take the sample bottle home when it was brought into the restaurant. It’s just so juicy, lively and pure. Even without the score, this is a total layup. This is a gorgeous French Rosé at an absurd price. One of the absolute best quality-to-price ratio offers of the year, every single year… no questions asked.
92 Points, Decanter
The big thing here is the quality. It’s noticeably a few steps above your typical Provencal Rose. It’s a racy blend of mainly Grenache and Cinsault, sourced from the picturesque 25-hectare estate in the countryside of Saint-Tropez. It’s elegant and juicy with good intensity and inviting aromas of red berries, orange peel, strawberry, and spiced ginger. The soft, red currant finish adds to the wine’s overall charm, making it a delightful and approachable choice for any occasion. I can’t believe I’m saying all this about a pink wine!
94 Points, Tasting Panel – 90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The winery made famous by Brad Pitt and Angelina is more famous in the wine world for their fleet of top Provencal Roses made by none other than superstar winemaker Marc Perrin, who has countless times turned the wine world on its head with his 100-point Chateauneuf du Papes at Chateau de Beaucastel. His 2022 Miraval Rose has a great salmon color with juicy notes of macerated cherries, strawberry currants, citrus and a lemon zest. It flashes that refreshing minerality that has become a Provence signature but crafted at 1100 ft above sea level, its crispness and vibrancy is unparalleled.
93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 93 Points, Decanter – 93 Points, Lisa Perotti-Brown – 92 Points, Vinous
“Unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries and raspberries mingled with hints of rose petal and spices, the 2020 Mondot is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a pure, seamless core of vibrant fruit and a long, succulent finish. Derived from Merlot growing on recently acquired vineyards on Saint-Émilion’s limestone plateau, some 40% of the blend is matured in tank, with the rest in once-used barriques.” -Parker’s Wine Advocate
I’ve forewarned Nicholas Wines customers that the 2022 vintage in Burgundy appears to be outstanding. As such, I’ve been stocking up on as much as I can. This one though is a Saturday Nighter – a special wine for sure. It comes from Fourchaume (one of the most noted Chablis 1ers crus) and vineyards situated on long slopes facing the sunrise, which allow for rapid soil warm up – a huge key to making deep, concentrated Chablis. Here the soils are predominantly brown clay and only slightly stony. Most of them are fairly deep and well-draining. It’s one of those most special white wine locations in all of Burgundy. This is a classic.
Their 2022 Chablis is drop-dead gorgeous. There’s a reason that Jean-Georges’ Fulton, Daniel Boulud’s Bar Boulud, and the Oceans right near Gramercy Park all pour this wine by-the-glass. It absolutely delights those who drink it. There’s so much to love, with its incredible vibrancy that leads to a rich core with flinty tautness and sapid minerality. On the nose, you get stone fruits with floral notes and with lemon pudding flavors that unite with a persistent oyster-shell minerality and back-palate tang that epitomize what Marcel Fèvre recognized in these hillsides a century ago.
This is rich, powerful Cabernet, just jammed with black-cherry and blackberry fruit, tightly framed by firm tannins. This wine is structured to last but has a fruit quality to it that will make it hard not to drink this holiday season with any type of roasted meat.
97 Points, James Suckling
Sitting just above the fog line, Fog Break Vineyard is perfectly protected from the harsh valley breezes. The vineyard retains the heart from the early morning sun throughout the day. The additional warmth, paired with the vineyard’s shallow iron-rich soils, come together to create a distinctive flavor profile that is concentrated, complex, and classically structured.
92 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 92 Points, James Suckling
If you aren’t familiar with Mike Januik and the wines he’s making at his own winery and at Novelty Hill, you need to change that ASAP. For the last 30 years, these are some of Washington’s most decorated, elegant wines. The 2020 Merlot is actually a Bordeaux blend that also features some Cabernet Sauvignon. That gives this a little extra force and some structure but it’s a sweet fruited, well-balanced treat that certainly appeals to a lot of palates. No surprised to see it rewarded with two strong 92-point reviews.
If you’re looking for rock-solid domestic Syrah, Ojai is the first place I always tell people to look. Their goal with the Santa Barbara County Syrah is to capture the pure expression of the region’s cool-climate vineyards. This wine does that in spades. The 2022 vintage was warm, so there’s a deep and ample ripeness to this bottling, yet the coastal vineyards held onto their earthy and savory Syrah qualities. The varietal fragrance is striking and pungent. The wine is terrific.
Today I snagged a really special single barrel that I have been working on for nearly two years now with Old Forester. It’s a 128.2 proof dynamo that will blow you away, and you’ll love every single sip. The nose is of fresh leather, baking spices & cocoa. On the pallet, this one is a monster & hits you with baked apple. brown sugar, vanilla & cinnamon. The finish goes on for two days long with notes of fig, cherries & clove. It’s big, but she’s a beauty.
98 Points, Vinous – 97 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 97 Points, Decanter – 97 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“Poured from the special anniversary bottle, the 2010 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a truly outstanding wine that leaves a lasting memory for those who are lucky enough to enjoy it. What stands out is the absolutely seamless-seamless-seamless (yes, it’s worth repeating three times) integration of its many moving parts. The wine magically transitions from cherry, spice, chocolate and espresso in one melodic and continuous loop. It exudes balance and elegance over long, delicious minutes. It is profoundly impressive. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. Of all the grapevines planted on the Ornellaia estate, the 2010 vintage showed best results with Merlot, says Leonardo Raspini. Because the harvest was later than usual, the early-ripening grape enjoyed a slow and steady evolution.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
98 Points, James Suckling – 97 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 96 Points, Wine Spectator
“Tasted from barrel, the 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be presented in the fall but won’t hit the market until spring of the following year. This is a beauty, so generous and opulent with fully seamless transitions. The wine’s traditional blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with tiny percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, although this warm vintage makes do with a pinch less of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit is selected across 107 hectares of Ornellaia vines, although the estate recently purchased an additional eight hectares next to Guado al Tasso in Castagneto Carducci, with terraces and vines aged between 15 and 28 years old. This broad and generous expression has a beautiful quality of fruit and oak that speaks to the very best of Italian winemaking.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
93 Points, James Suckling
The 2019 vintage in Chianti and Tuscany was absolutely stellar, producing wines with incredible depth and character. The Pagliarese Chianti Classico Riserva embodies everything we love about this region, from its rich red fruit flavors to its elegant, well-integrated tannins. It’s drinking so well right now. It wowed James Suckling who gave it a 93-point score and deemed it “fine and precise”.
97 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2021 certainly does – this is an ageworthy beauty that competes with some of the best Bordeaux bottles that money can buy. The conditions were nearly perfect across the Valley, so Jayson and his team could really focus on the blend. The results so far are pretty incredible. Only one reviewer has gotten to the new vintage yet, but if Parker’s Wine Advocate is any indication of what is to come, all the reviews will be quite large. They came in at 97 points for this, calling it “Full-bodied and rich” and “dense and velvety on the palate, with a long, mouthwatering finish.” Not too shabby.
100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Needing plenty of air to show at its best, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is a sensational, gorgeous Napa Valley Cabernet that delivers the goods like only this region can. Pure Cabernet magic on the nose, with deep blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, lead pencil, and a kiss of spring flowers as well as a beautiful Pessac-Leognan-like scorched earth character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It’s one of those wines that builds incrementally on the palate and it’s only after the second or third sip that you realize how special this wine is. It also offers that rare mix of power and elegance that’s the hallmark of all great wines. It needs a couple of hours in the decanter if drinking any time soon. Hats off to Paul Hobbs for an incredible Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.“
93 Points, Wine Spectator
This is a beautiful example of one of my absolute favorite grapes, Dolcetto – a Piedmontese grape that has so much rich history, yet continues to be phased out as the world clamors for more Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. It comes from Pecchenino, a winery that has been a beacon of winemaking excellence and tradition in Piedmont for over four generations. Their family winery is perfectly nestled in the picturesque rolling hills of Dogliani – and their commitment to Dolcetto has never wavered, even as others around them chased the money.
2016 happens to be one of the highest rated ever (98pts, Wine Spectator) so it was no surprise that this year’s made the cut. The 2016 Riserva which was just released, is an intense version steeped in complex layers of flavor. It’s compact and well built with a touch of leather that compliments dark cherries, fresh licorice and a hint of cocoa all framed on a mineral backbone.
92 Points, Vinous
This is a fantastic white wine value that is one of my bargains of the year. It lights up with bright, vibrant notes of white peach, nectarine and candied apple with hints of the ocean saline, a chiseled backbone and a wonderfully tight and delicious finish. It’s the kind of wine that absolutely electrifies your palate or as Vinous Media describes it “excites the imagination with a complex blend of peach preserves and chamomile accentuated by sweet smoke”
91 Points, Tasting Panel – 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
There’s a consistency to Pierre Sparr wines that consumers just know they can count on throughout the entire portfolio. The wines deliver aromatics, elegance, clean fruit and are packed with vibrancy. They also happen to be extremely food-friendly, especially in the past few vintages where yields were down but quality rose to an all-time high. This is a bone-dry beauty with layers of citrus fruits, framed by wet stone and mineral character that adds dimension.
Every year, Pierre Sparr’s Alsacian Riesling is one of the top scoring wines in the under $20 category. There’s a consistency there and consumers know they can count on a Riesling that is aromatic, fruity, elegant, clean and vibrant. Pierre Sparr wines are extremely food-friendly especially in the widely praised 2021 vintage where quality rose to an all-time high. It’s a bone-dry beauty with layers of citrus fruits, framed by wet stone and mineral character that adds dimension.
95 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 94 Points, James Suckling
“Pio Cesare does a great job with its classic 2019 Barolo (in production since 1881). The bottom of the front label reads “Barolo Pio” in memory of the legendary Pio Boffa. He was a wine entrepreneur who gained the immediate respect and love of all those who knew him. This is a large production with fruit sourced from across seven vineyards in five villages. Despite those ambitious numbers, the wine remains strictly focused on bright Nebbiolo fruit with red cassis and aniseed. The finish is smooth with tannins that elegantly dissolve over the palate.”
This one is an aromatic fireworks show followed by a Big Red with a mouthful of red and black currants, plum, and licorice. There’s some notes of cedar, crushed herbs, and nutmeg here too that all mesh together nicely to create a lush, full-bodied wine with plenty of layers and a lengthy memorable finish.
100 Pts, International Wine Report – 98 Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 98 Pts, James Suckling
“The 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is truly sensational. It begins with striking aromas of fresh blackberries, blueberries and dark plums that are laced with fresh spring florals, mocha, sweet exotic spices, graphite and gravel nuances all taking shape. The palate is full-bodied and displays a remarkable combination of power and elegance throughout. This is beautifully structured and extremely expressive, as it possesses outstanding depth and concentration all they way through the long, finessed finish. Year after year, the Columbia Valley Cabernet is one of the most impressive wines, and there is no exception here, as it combines all the wonderful qualities of the 2020 vintage from Quilceda Creek into one expression. This is fantastic already and readers will be in for a real treat, as this simply marvelous wine will continue to deliver the goods for years to come.”
#1 Wine of the Year (2023), Owen Bargreen Top 100 Wines
100 Pts, International Wine Report – 100 Pts, Owen Bargreen, 98+ Pts, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2021 mainly comes from the Champoux Vineyard (90%) with the remainder coming from the Mach One Vineyard. A range of Cabernet Sauvignon clones are blended into this wine that spent 20 months in all new French oak before bottling. The aromatics really pop here with violets alongside potpourri and Turkish coffee, sandalwood, allspice dusted dates and shades of black licorice. The palate is generous, weightless and very generous as this is a total show stopper. Concentrated blue and black fruits with walnut, with creme de violette all brilliantly combine with the elegant mid-palate mouthfeel. Finishing extremely long, this is nothing short of perfection in a bottle. I don’t say this lightly but this is arguably the finest ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon that I have ever tasted. Give this three hours or more in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2044-”
#1 Wine of the Year (2023), Owen Bargreen Top 100 Wines (2021)
100 Pts, International Wine Report (2020 + 2021 vintage)
This is a crazy rare two-pack opportunity that allows you to lock into not one but two consecutive 100-point vintages for this historic estate. Easily the best winery in Washington, maybe the best Cabernet Sauvignon producer in all of America, Quilceda Creek continues to raise the bar each vintage. You can lock into 1 bottle of the 2020 (100 pts, IWR) and 1 bottle of the 2021 (100 pts, IWR, 100 pts, OB) at a sensational price. No further discounts apply!
With seemingly infinite access to some of the absolute very best vineyards in the most choice AVAs in the valley, the Wagner’s set out to make Quilt– a Cabernet blend from a patchwork of the top sites in Napa (Oakville, St Helena, Atlas Peak, Coombsville, Calistoga, and Howell Mountain.) The brand new 2021 edition is a beauty – deeply concentrated, rich and a truly show stopping Cabernet. It’s a dark, hedonistic blend that combines elegance with power and pairs the two together effortlessly.
This is a beauty – both a refreshing and elegant expression of the varietal. The 2023 vintage is a true standout, with critics praising its bright acidity, crisp texture, and vibrant fruit flavors. On the nose, expect to find enticing aromas of citrus, tropical fruits, and a hint of floral notes. The palate is greeted with flavors of juicy pineapple, ripe melon, and a touch of minerality, all leading to a refreshing finish that leaves you craving more.
92 Points (#57 Top 100 of 2023), Wine Spectator
Jose Manuel Martinez’s flagship Albarino is his ‘Turonia’ bottling. This is age-worthy Albarino that you probably didn’t even know existed. It’s sourced exclusively from decades-old Albarino vines that are precariously set in hillsides of sheer slate. Every vine is over 30 years of age, and Manuel Martinez only chooses the best parcels for the bottling. It should be no wonder then that such a ridiculous good value would make its way into Wine Spectator’s Top 100.
91 Points, Decanter – 90 Points, Vinous – 90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2022 Raats Chenin Blanc showcases the classic characteristics of Chenin Blanc with a fresh and vibrant twist. It offers a delightful bouquet of peach, pineapple, and citrus blossom, followed by a palate that is beautifully balanced and full of energy. The wine’s medium body and lively finish make it a versatile companion to a wide range of dishes or a delicious sip on its own.
95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2018 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard marks the beginning of winemaker Joe Nielsen’s tenure at the winery. Pouring a medium yellow with a light golden hue, it’s most reserved of the flight aromatically at the moment, with yellow chamomile flowers, ripe peach, beeswax, and white flowers. Full-bodied, it retains excellent tension and focus on the palate, with apricot, orange zest, and a savory finish with a bit of spice. I suspect this will come around and open with time. Drink 2024-2030.” -Jeb Dunnuck
98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 97 Points, Decanter – 97 Points, The Wine Independent
“After sampling 86 wines over a two-day marathon with Realm Cellars co-owners Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette, I had no doubt that one would make my top 10 list of the year. It would be ‘The Bard’, which will be available beginning in 2024. It is a very giving wine that promises great rewards for long-term cellaring and is enjoyable three full nights in a row, never losing its zeal if having one great glass each night is your prerogative. Power and muscle frame the core of this towering red, with its red-toned fruits and rich, toasty oak spice nuance by bay Laurel and pastis. Full-bodied with tremendous decadence of chocolaty tannins that are pliant and billowy, lifted by supple blackberry and black raspberry fruit, a drizzle of cherry coulis, and resolving with refined tobacco, cedar wood spice, and laced with coriander and cumin aromatics. It has a satisfyingly rich finish. Number five of my top wines of 2023.” -Decanter
92 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Their regional Garnacha 2021 Rico-Nuevo was produced with grapes on granite soils from different vineyards in the villages of Burgohondo and El Barraco. This is subtle and pure, defined and clean, with moderate alcohol and ripeness, vibrant and fresh, with the fine granularity of the granite soils. They had to sort and select the grapes because it was a wet harvest, then fermented with some full clusters (less than in 2020) and kept the wine in stainless steel until bottled. There is a big jump in quality in this cuvée. And it’s a bargain.” -Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Roberto Ferraris has been crafting works of art in the form of Barbera from the sandy, limestone-laden hills of Asti for the last 20 years. He’s got a knack for making aromatically dynamic, elegant red wines, with vibrant, pure fruit that makes Roberto one of the very best producers of wines we can drink every day. Cut from the steep limestone hills, the old vines on this property pack an incredibly concentrated core of juicy black and purple fruited wine that absolutely sings with pizza, as well as summer salads, pasta dishes and dried meats.
It’s hard to beat a great value white wine and this one is a at least a cut above the rest. One prominant industry insider called the 2022 edition, “the best white wine by any within $20/cs of this price.” It’s super crisp with a great mineral streak, and was carefully picked by hand when the temperature is coolest and is kept cool all the way into the press. From there, the effect of the mineral soil takes over, providing great finesse and freshness in every bottle. This white blend has great backbone and a lot of juicy fruit coming through behind aromas of flowers and stone fruits. At this price, it’s a no brainer.
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This is a huge favorite of folks in the Red Bank area. It’s a bold, unapologetic Chardonnay with juicy notes of peach, lemon sorbet, baking spice and vanilla with a rich, creamy middle and plenty of natural acidity to balance it out. The lemon vanilla finish is perhaps the wine’s calling card or the sheer drinkability of it all. Either way, it’s a Chard that people adore. It’s no wonder Wine Enthusiast called this, “a big win for fans of this bold style”.
90 Points, The Wine Independent
“The 2018 Ronan by Client is medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it has fragrant notes of black and red cherries and blackberry preserves with cinnamon toast and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, it is lively and fresh with a grainy texture and savory finish. This is a good value wine.” -Lisa Perotti-Brown
95 Points, Vinous
Their flagship bottling is memorable every single year, but in 2018, the winery hit a particularly high note. As you probably already noted, Vinous declared the bottlings one of the best examples of the grape they’ve ever tasted. That’s pretty loud praise. They gave it an emphatic 95-point score for good measure. It deserves every point, if not more.
Sonoma Coast is well-known as a cool-climate region, perfect for growing Chardonnay. That’s why it’s such a big deal for Route Stock to transition over for the first time from Carnernos over to here. The newly released 2022 beams freshness and comes packed with a delightful energy in its youth. It has a pale straw color with lime hues. The aromas are of honeysuckle, orange blossom and creme brulee with layers of vanilla and a hint of toffee. The palate is lively yet soft with flavors of lemon cream pie and merange.
91 Points, James Suckling
Coming off saline-rich soils, it retains incredible natural acidity even in the Southern Italian sun. This has everything you want in a good Sicilian Red. It’s bright and vibrant but with some depth and chewier notes and even some spicier components that come in towards the end.
91 Points, James Suckling
Their 2021 Rubio Toscana IGT is a seamless blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, offering an effortless balance of flavors and textures. On the palate, you’ll discover rich notes of ripe red berries, hints of spice, and a touch of earthiness, all wrapped up in a silky-smooth texture that lingers long after each sip.
100 Points, James Suckling – 98+ Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“An extremely pure and elegant vintage for Seña. This is really fresh, nimble and floral on the nose with subtle cherries, plums, redcurrants and wild lavender. More red fruit here with lots of layers and just a touch of sweet spice. Very discreet and subtle, with the elegance, freshness and poise you’d expect from 2021. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with a bit more flesh and depth if you compare it with Roca de Seña, their second wine. The impeccable tannins show the supreme quality of the fruit this year. Persistent, seamless finish, but comes in a subtle way. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 27% malbec, 17% carmenere and 6% petit verdot. Effortlessly drinkable now, but it will age beautifully.” -James Suckling
Stephan Steinmetz is a star in the Mosel wine region. His old vines are rooted in Kimmeridgian limestone, the exact same vein of rock that winds its way from Sancerre through Chablis and Champagne to its final out-cropping here in the Obermosel. His Elbling is glorious — both completely unlike anything I’ve ever had and also eerily familiar. The color is almost clear, some might call it silver. A stunning nose of green apples and lemon peel gives way to fresh pear and bright citrus fruits on the palate. It’s a stunningly focused wine with a healthy dose of minerality and acid zip, not unlike great Sancerre/Chablis and bone dry.
Today’s Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 Estate bottling from Stolpman, is absolutely bristling with energy. It’s relentless as soon as you twist open the top. It’s as fresh as could be with inviting aromas of peach, green apple, and citrus. There’s beautiful acid present in the first sip but plenty of fruit to greet you as well. There’s a minerality from crisp lemon-lime notes with some citrus and salinity that infiltrates the palate. It’s a gorgeous, medium bodied wine that absolutely puts to shame most of the past year in domestic Sauvignon Blanc I’ve had in the past year. This is 100% Ballard Canyon Estate fruit, and the price is just silly.
95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 95 Points, Lisa Perotti-Brown
The oft 100-point winemaker, Jayson Woodbridge had this to say when tasting his 2021 ‘Stargazing’ Sonoma Pinot: “The wine is vibrant and complex with subtle dark fruits and berries, grandmother’s cherry pie, minerals, and a slight touch of rain-soaked earth, intertwined with a balance and very pleasing easy-going luxury. Should have been priced higher but what the hell.” I have no doubt this clerical error will be addressed in the vintages moving forward. But for now, this is a cult Pinot for under $100/bottle.
94 Points, James Suckling – 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 93 Points, Decanter – 92 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
What’s so special about this is the unique location, with its proximity to the cooling influence of the Monterey Bay, creates an optimal microclimate for grape growing. This cool maritime climate allows for a long, gentle growing season, resulting in grapes that ripen slowly and develop complex flavors while retaining refreshing acidity.
94 Points, Vinous
If you don’t know about the wines of Graham Tatomer, you need to change that in a hurry. I was at a tasting with a number of top Santa Barbara producers this past week, this wine absolutely stole the show. I’d argue that Graham is making the very best non-Chardonnay white wines in all of America right now. Judging by the way his wines are scored, very few folks would disagree. This crushes with sweet stone fruit up front and some great minerality and acid to back it up. Made from both John Sebastiano and Kcik-on Ranch Vineyards, this is exactly as Antonio Galloni describes it “a thing of beauty”.
92 Points (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast – 90 Points, James Suckling
The winery could never expected their Tuscan Vermentino would become as integral as it has – even 25 years later, it’s still a key piece of the puzzle for Campo Maccione. It’s an unassuming wine with great viscosity and bright, savory flavors that way overdelivers for the price. James Suckling agreed, as did Wine Enthusiast. Suckling gave it a 90 and deemed it “an interesting take on Tuscan Vermentino.” Wine Enthusiast took it up a few notches, attaching a coveted ‘Best Buy’ designate to the wine along with a 92-point review for the wine “with a sophisticated restraint.”
98 Points, James Suckling – 97 Points, Decanter
“This is fantastic. Intense and super long on the palate. It’s insanely complex yet subtle with so much going on, with a beautiful balance and tension. It is full and powerful with a big juicy character that goes on for minutes. Muscular yet covered with pretty fruit. Elegance with force. Hard not to drink.”
98 Points, James Suckling – 98 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 97+ Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 97 Points, Decanter
“All about radiance and finesse, this iconic Tuscan red has beguiling aromas of cedar, wild red berry, menthol and pipe tobacco that mingle with fragrant blue flowers. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, the focused, elegantly structured palate is vibrant and savory, delivering cassis, orange zest, licorice and a hint of coffee framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and balanced. Drink through 2033.” -Wine Enthusiast
On the heels of a fabulous 2018 vintage, it seemed like the folks at Harlan Estate couldn’t go any higher. But with Harlan’s 2019 Estate earning a perfect 100-point score from Parker and the Bond Vecina nearly matching it with a 99, it’s clear that the wines being made here are a cut above everyone else. Lucky for us, The Mascot is a blend of Harlan, Bond and Promontory barrels. The Cabernet Sauvignon here is grown from some of the most spectacular vineyards in the entire Napa Valley. In the 2019 vintage, this is a dream come true for Will Harlan and company.
The 2022 is bursting at the seams – a brooding, powerful Red Blend with raspberry, blackberry, vanilla and cranberry flavors on the attack that mesh with a hint of vanilla, and some well integrated sweet oak notes. It’s so silky smooth and inviting with pristine fruit – a mass appeal wine that is sure to be the talk of any table.
Fresh off its feature as one of Wine Spectator’s ‘Exciting California Values Under $25’, winemaker Matt Cline looks to stay hot with his release of the 2020 Contra Costa Zinfandel. This one is a beauty crafted off old-vines that are now between 110-140 years in age. There’s a ton of darker fruits that drive this one with a dusting of baking spice. The fruit is pure, fresh and long making it both delicious on its own or terrific with a burger, BBQ ribs, or grilled leg of lamb. Crazy cheap for what is in the bottle, load up!
It’s been a while, but we’re finally back today with the new 2022 vintage courtesy of winemaker Cristof Tiefenbrunner. It’s a bright, gorgeous Pinot Grigio in the steep hillsides in the shadow of the oft snow-capped Dolomites. It hits with bright citrus notes infused with mouth watering aromas of tangerine, pear, and saline minerality.
Gold Medal (Best in Show), 2023 Mundus Vini International Tasting
The area has also been isolated from the rest of Spain for generations, which has kept the wine prices far lower than wines of this quality would be anywhere else in the world. That’s why, despite having the Torres family name on the bottle and the consistent huge press (including the Gold Medal & Best in Show at the 2023 Mundus Vini International Wine Awards in Germany), these wines can still be scooped up for under $20/bottle. It’s like the Sancerre pricing of yesteryear.
Anne Sery describes her Trousse Chemise Cabernets as an ode to the Left Bank and her winemaking roots. It’s a beautiful and fresh Cabernet with aromas that leap from the glass with of black raspberry, violets, and creme de liquor notes. The mouth gives generous amounts of juicy black fruits at the core with hints of baking spice and a smooth, savory finish. This is a terrific partner for just about anything from hard cheese, to poultry, summer salads, you name it!
Every year since inception, Anne Sery’s Trousse Chemise wines have wowed folks from Coast to Coast (like Daniel Boulud who has an exclusive with her). But the newly released 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir really kicks things up a couple notches. It’s bursting with an intense, berried up fruitiness– when people compare Oregon as the closest thing to Burgundy in America, this is what they are talking about. Juicy and vibrant, with even more expressive floral, red fruit and sage aromatics.
93 Points, James Suckling – 90 Points, Wine Spectator
93 Points from James Suckling who called this iteration of Tua Rita’s top value “One of the best I have had.” 90 more from Wine Spectator who labeled this one “a bright, focused red, offering cherry, raspberry, floral and earth flavors.”
97+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Stunning stuff, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label offers a full-bodied, deep, majestic style as well as beautiful aromatics of creme de cassis, violets, flowers, and nicely integrated background oak. It has ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a regal, age-worthy style that has so much to love. It, however, is not going to be for the instant gratification crowd and this actually shut down pretty quickly with air. I would hide bottle for 4-6 years and it’s going to cruise over the following two decades in cold cellars.”
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – 95 Points, Vinous
This one is an absolute beauty from the man behind the great Dominus and Inglenook projects, Christian Moueix. The wine is fantastic – far better than the Inglenook bottlings, some would even say equal to its big brother, Dominus. Still, at nearly half the price and with virtually the same huge scores, it’s one that you need to try for yourself – it deserves a place in the cellar without a doubt. It’s elegant and incredibly well-polished, sculpted with tremendous precision and focus throughout. The 97 points attached to it seems appropriate, especially in such a fantastic and ageworthy vintage. This one should enjoyed over the next 15-25 years.
At 350 feet above sea level, growing seasons are often extended with warm days and cool, breezy nights. The diurnal changes of temperature help create healthy vines and grapes that are packed full of complexity, concentration and energy. Ain’t a whole of Provence wineries that can compare. We’ve offered Val de Caire’s spectacular Provence Rouge before, but their bread and butter wine, the Coteaux d’Aix en-Provence Rose has finally been imported into the U.S. for the first time. People are gonna go nuts for this wine.
It’s got a great straw yellow to it, with beautiful peach cobbler, apricot, and fresh citrus notes that are balanced by floral notes and a hint of spiced ginger. The fruit is sweet and pure, but with some great acidity to balance everything out. The way it cut the foie gras was impressive. I’d assume it would be just as good with spicy Thai food, fresh seafood, or a hedonistic dessert.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast – 94 Points, James Suckling – 92 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Derthona Timorasso is absolutely gorgeous. As Wine Enthusiast writes, “Timorasso is one of the most distinctive white grapes in the Italian canon, and Vietti has struck gold.” The wine is perfectly in balance, harmonious stone fruits, honey, beeswax and straw notes mingle perfectly with stony minerality and some delicious salty flavors.
The Tonelli family are royalty in this region, with four generations of grape growers leading the way and even establishing the local D.O.C. The family’s 2022 Ponente is 100% Sangiovese and is an absolutely incredible wine for the price. Comfortably less than $20/bottle for fleshed out, high-toned, zipped up Sangiovese? Count me in. It screams for pizza or summer salads, squash or a charcuterie plate. It’s about to be one of your new favorites if it’s not already from last vintage.
90 Points, James Suckling
When it comes to good New Zealand Sauv Blanc, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. But there are a few must-haves that are non-negotiable. For one, the wine has to be crisp and refreshing with good acids and no sugar. It needs to be easy to drink on its own as well as to pair with summer cuisine like goat cheese salads and grilled watermelon. It also needs to have pristine fruit. It needs the tropical, citrus and stone fruit flavors we crave. Lastly, of course, it also has to have a stellar price. There are too many good cheap ones to overpay for NZ Sauv Blanc.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“The nose is delicate, but doesn’t lack subtlety, as the freshness of citrus blossoms and grapefruit mingles with drier aromas of tea leaves and cumin. That balance continues on the palate, where green apples play with camomile, while accelerating acid recalls the citrus of the nose.” -Wine Enthusiast
96 Points, James Suckling
“The moment you move the glass close to your nose the extraordinary perfume of this great Cornas is overwhelming. Deep, meaty and smoky, yet brimming with blue fruits and violets, how can you resist? What grace and elegance this has on the pristine and light-footed palate. Really concentrated, but only medium-bodied, this is a masterpiece of filigree at the breathtakingly fresh and precise finish. Drink or hold.”
Just in time, we got back Vincent Ricard’s all-time great white wine bargain. This is a crisp, clean and flat out delicious Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. The protege to the Silex-style of Dagueneau – who over the last 15 years has produced flawless and beloved white wines that at last count were on the wine lists of over 36 Michelin-starred restaurants. This is a great house white and one that can surely hold its own with just about everything on the table.
95 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate – 94 Points,Wine Spectator
Robert Parker, Jr. gave it 95 points and called it “one of the finest Warre’s I’ve ever tasted” and “a profound example of Warre vintage port.” Additionally, “Tasters should take note of the wealth of peppery, licorice-scented and flavored raspberry and blackcurrant fruit. Look for it to be ready to drink in 10-12 years, and keep for 30+.”
The newly released Riesling Feinherb 2021 is a lively, juicy wine with an elegant bouquet of minerals, wet stone and ripe fruit. On the palate, the wine’s slight off-dry component is beautifully balanced by the steely acidity typical of the Mosel. Because this is freshly released, the fruit is vibrant and succulent and it comes in somewhere between off-dry and semi-sweet. It’s a great example of Riesling, especially at the price.
Recently Wolffer Estate has expanded their famous Rose line to now include a Cotes de Provence Rose. For my money, it’s hands down a better bottling – an energetic and super fresh pink wine created from the French staple Rose grapes of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah as opposed to the Long Island version that has a whole lot of varietals mixed in. It’s bright and balanced and the perfect treat for the pool or beach as the weather warms.
90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Xavier Vignon’s brand spanking new CDR 100% is a thing of beauty. It’s already got a blessing from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who described this wine as, “Full-bodied, concentrated and supple”. This is a gorgeous and intricate blend that features all of the Southern Rhone appellations. This year, the blend was 40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 7% Marselan, 6% Terret Noir. Nobody can do it like the mad scientist, Xavier Vignon.
93 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“Vignon’s 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape delivers even more than I hoped for based on a previous sample. Hints of garrigue, roses, cherries and raspberries appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, silky and long, with an intense, almost briny finish. The assemblage is 50% Grenache, 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus smaller proportions of seven other permitted varieties, while the élevage includes foudres, demi-muids, concrete and wooden tanks, plus terracotta amphorae.”
91 Points (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast – 91 Points, James Suckling – 90 Points, Vinous
The wine was fantastic – a high-toned beauty with a super fruity and tropical nose that leads to citrus and stone fruit, amazing natural acidity, and even a streak of minerality that dazzles the palate.
90 Points (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast
“The wine has an intense nose of black, blue and red fruits with dried leaves, roasted coffee and baking spices all dancing together on the nose. The palate is lush with a deeper core of black plum, dark chocolate and savory herbs, finishing with fine tannins and a pop of acidity.” -Wine Enthusiast
The Zenato family has built up quite the reputation for delivering exceptional value with their red and whites in Veneto. Their Pinot Grigio is a particularly great value, punching way above its weight class. Delicately scented and soft on the palate, it offers classic citrus and floral notes in a balanced elegant style. It’s smooth and refreshing with a long, pleasant finish. Great with food.
96 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 96 Points, James Suckling – 96 Points, Decanter
“There are 6,500 cases of the superb 2006 Dominus (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot). Its dark plum/purple color is accompanied by aromas and flavors of truffles, forest floor, black cherries, black currants, and Asian spices. One of the finest wines of the vintage, it is complete, full-bodied, and seamlessly built with beautiful ripe tannins, low acidity, and a luscious, layered mouthfeel. The aromatics are even more evolved and complex than the 2005’s. The 2006 should drink well for 20-25 years. These are the two strongest back to back vintages for Dominus since 1990-1991 and 2001-2002.” -Robert Parker, Jr.