The 2022 Saint-Aubin La Princée offers up notes of apple blossom, crisp orchard fruit and wet stones, followed by a medium-bodied, pure and racy palate that's fresh but charming. This will offer a broad drinking window.... Read More

Clear bright and lively ruby purple. Super perfume, this has an innate class over and above even the Chaffots, with a lovely tensile strength. More red fruit than black, perfectly poised, with a long stylish finish. All in finesse!... Read More

This special cuvée is perhaps the most consistently exceptional wine of this domaine, with a depth that is always generous and appealing. It has it all: presence, length, power and finesse. The grapes for this wine are... Read More

Based on Pinot Blanc and an ever-decreasing proportion of Auxerrois from a very warm and dry vintage, the 2022 Pinot Blanc Cuvée Les Amours (or Classic in certain markets) has a clear and finely aromatic bouquet of bright... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard features beguiling scents of Montreal-style smoked meat backed by waves of black cherries and cassis. It's full-bodied, rich, plush and expansive on the palate, captivating for its... Read More

The Il Marroneto 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of special depth and elegance. Alessandro Mori tells me that fermentation in 2020 proceeded nicely with what he describes as a primordial stew of grape must, resulting in... Read More

The northern zone of Montalcino is characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and cool temperatures. These conditions are idea for creating Brunellos of significant ageing potential, showing complexity, increased aromatics,... Read More

The Il Marroneto 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie (tasted once in the winery and again in my office) is another classical expression of Sangiovese from vintner Alessandro Mori and his son Iacopo. This vintage is... Read More

A big beast of a wine, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Slope has loads of blackcurrant and blackberry-styled fruits as well as toasted spice, graphite, licorice, and crushed stone-like aromas and flavors. Structured, full-bodied,... Read More

Marked by black cherries and cassis aromas, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a fairly muscular effort—not that it's big or bulky, but it shows plenty of tannic depth and a crisply acidic spine. It should be capable of... Read More

Supple and smooth, the 2020 Cepparello brings Sangiovese to soaring heights in a manner only Paolo De Marchi can manage. This is his second to last vintage before he would retire and sell this historic estate. The wine opens to... Read More

The Isole e Olena 2021 Chianti Classico is a softly textured and charming wine that is impeccably buttoned up and balanced. It offers terrific value at this price point. This wine is packed with bright fruit, wild cherry and blue... Read More

Light greenish gold in color, the Chardonnay is aromatic on the nose, with spicy, buttery perfumes. On the palate it balances ripe fruit, fresh bread crust from the oven, with a hint of spice from the oak aging and a long, slightly... Read More

The Syrah Collezione Privata Toscana IGT from Isole e Olena is an impressive wine. This Syrah shines dark red in the glass. It presents concentrated and juicy aromas on the nose. It smells of black fruits, plums, herbs, black... Read More

The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Casanova dell'Aia is a picture-perfect example of Radda. Sage, mint, white pepper, crushed rocks, mint and dried herbs give the 2021 its intensely floral/savory/mineral style.... Read More

Wild berry, dark spice, Mediterranean brush and a whiff of scorched earth come to the forefront on the gorgeous 2022 Casanova dell'Aia. Delicious and showing owner and winemaker Angela Fronti's hallmark of finesse, the... Read More

Ruby red in color with scents of pine and mountain herbs on the nose. Juicy red cherries and blackberries on the palate with youthful tannins and fresh acidity.

Light bright yellow. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes poached pear, peach nectar and candied ginger scents, and a smoky quality builds in the glass. Sappy, seamless and penetrating on the palate, offering intense orchard and pit... Read More

2022 was the earliest harvest in the estate's history. Jean-Louis Chave harvested the Roucoule and Péléat plots on August 23-24 while Maison Blanche and Ermite were picked on August 28. The 2022 Hermitage Blanc... Read More

Chardonnay-based blend 55% from Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers, and Champillon, 45% from Avize and Oiry. Base vintage 2020, 24% of reserve wines. Dosage 2 g/L, disgorged October 2024. Precise and structured with a focus on freshness... Read More

A sleek, creamy white, exhibiting floral, peach, lemon curd, pastry and light toast notes. Seamless and vibrant, this holds your attention through the long, pastry- and baking spice–tinged finish. Drink now through 2030.... Read More

A much smaller production of all organically grown grapes, the 2022 Languedoc Les Darons (organic) (70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 5% Carignan) has similar red and blue fruits as well as peppery herb and garrigue-like nuances. It's... Read More

There's good presence and structure to this harmonious white, with a vibrant spine of acidity working nicely with the rich range of creamed apple, chopped hazelnut, Meyer lemon peel and ginger-infused pastry cream flavors.... Read More

The 2017 The Armagh Shiraz is really hitting its meaty straps at five years of age (in 2022). It has hoisin, salami, tobacco leaf and five spice in preponderance and shows a level of concentration in the mouth that aligns it with... Read More

The wine's aromas of orange-flavored olive oil cake take you straight to a Mediterranean villa. Additional aromas of white sage and fresh-shucked oyster shells get you to the beach. Lemon, butter and toasted filbert flavors... Read More

The 2020 Fenix, nearly all Merlot for the very first time, is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Jonata. Dark, rich and bursting with pure unbridled energy, the Fenix is shaping up to be tremendous. Black cherry,... Read More

93 Vinous Notes

Despite having been bottled a year ago, the 2014 El Desafio de Jonata is still very closed. Dark, dense and brooding, the 2014 is going to need at least a few years to unwind. The tannins are quite powerful, while... Read More

Winemaker Matt Dees is considered one of the best winemakers anywhere, and this blend is ample reason to believe the hype. Intense, focused and dry but rich aromas of dark fruit, roasted wood, crushed rocks and wild herb enliven... Read More

One of the most balanced Jordan Chardonnays to date. Flavors of juicy citrus, Asian pear and lemon peel balance seamlessly with the subtle French oak notes. The cooler-climate vineyard sourcing this year brings even more lively... Read More

Musigny is remarkable for its great purity of colour. The aromas are reminiscent of violet and fruit stone when the wine is young. After eight to ten years, these aromas become very refined and complex: fallen leaves, damp earth,... Read More

Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2024!

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Malbec from estate and grower vineyards in St. Helena, south Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District, Stags Leap District and Rutherford in Napa Valley. A classic Napa Valley... Read More

The 2022 Doug's Vineyard Pinot Noir is savory and spiced and riddled with autumn leaf nuance, pastrami, graphite, steel, blueberry, black cherry and black tea. This is a beguiling wine, to say the least; it offers so much... Read More

The oak of the 2021 Juan Gil (blue label) is subtler and feels more integrated into the wine. It's a fresher year of wines with more freshness and better balance, more elegance and length. It has 15.5% alcohol and finishes... Read More

Bright with a dark purple/black core and a lighter ruby purple rim showing slowforming, moderately stained tears on the glass. Attractively aromatic and complex with ripe black and red cherry, black currant, new book leather,... Read More

A shrouded jewel unveiled to embrace.... black plum, crushed dried roses, volcanic sand, cedar box and charcoal... generous withgorgeous refinement, precision and texture... it sings in chorus with black cherry, forest floor,... Read More

Little can be added to the greatness of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine (600 cases) is truly stunning in its dense, crème de cassis and... Read More

A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is pure perfection and undeniably one of the greatest wines in this terrific vintage. With a Château Latour like... Read More

The 2015 Merlot Roberta's Reserve is a textbook expression of Merlot and it has a pretty, yet sexy style to go with lots of blue fruits, violets, leafy herbs and graphite aromas and flavors. Like all the 2015s from this estate,... Read More

Rich and fleshy in feel, but with a nice juicy edge for balance, this lets creamed plum and blackberry fruit spill forth, laced liberally with mocha, singed alder, sweet tobacco and melted black licorice. For the hedonist crowd.... Read More

Deep ruby color. Perfumed notes of rose petal, musk, and dried herbs with a whiff of charcuterie lingering in the background. Bright berry fruit flavors, cacao and black olive. Followed by slowly building fine-textured tannins... Read More

Made form 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon gives a deep garnet-purple and has quite a serious, slightly closed nose of warm blackcurrants, black cherry compote, baked plums and espresso with hints of forest... Read More

#49, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025

Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2024!

Its fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats, where the grapes macerate and are churned with their skins on, at temperatures between 16-18ºC, to produce a white wine full of colour and structure, able to sustain prolonged... Read More

Disgorged a year ago, Krug's 2008 Blanc de Blancs Clos du Mesnil unwinds in the glass with notes of citrus oil, nougat, honeycomb, white flowers and a discreet hint of buttered toast and hazelnuts. Full-bodied, layered and... Read More

A full, rich wine, that brings together the Krug style with its vanilla flavors and power with the great 1990 vintage. After 14 years, this wine is developing still, hinting at toast along with flavors of peach, nuts and a touch... Read More

Rich and mouthwatering, this powerhouse Champagne is driven by vivacious acidity. The expansive palate features flavors of glazed apricot, toasted brioche, candied kumquat and ginger, espresso crème, fleur de sel and cognac.... Read More