2010 - Present Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 94 Points | The 2022 Chardonnay Alta Historic Rows originates from Gualtallary and Villa Bastías, Uco Valley vineyards. It was aged up to 14 months in a combination of new and used barrels. Yellow in hue with a golden sheen. The floral nose presents appealing green apple, cedar, and nut aromas with hints of fennel and quince in the background. On the palate, it has a creamy, chalky texture and tart acidity resulting in a taut, refreshing mouthfeel. A well-crafted Chardonnay that sums up the advantages of high-altitude vineyards. 

James Suckling 94 Points |  Pie crust, smoked pineapple, lemon curd and zesty citrus on the palate. Medium-bodied, showing fresh, creamy fruit and a lengthy finish. Drink or hold.

Sauvignon Blanc | Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage: 2024  |  Size: 750ml  |  Screw Cap

Shaw + Smith is one of Australia’s most celebrated boutique estates, founded in 1989 by Master of Wine Martin Shaw and winemaker Michael Hill Smith MW in the cool-climate Adelaide Hills. Their Sauvignon Blanc has become a benchmark for the variety in Australia — hand-harvested during a precise window of perfect ripeness from carefully selected sites, it delivers a level of quality and consistency that is, as the critics note, seemingly unnerving for the price point.

The 2024 is zesty, fresh, and vibrant — passionfruit, just-ripe pineapple, lychee, orange blossom, and cut grass on the nose, with pink grapefruit, green apple skin, and lemon peel on the palate. Tightly coiled and precise, with a generous mouthfeel, lively acidity, and a finish with a light chalky pucker and a distinctive salsa verde character. Moderately complex, beautifully even, and endlessly easy to drink.

“Perhaps one of Australia’s most famed sauvignon blancs with a seemingly unnerving level of quality for the pricepoint… zesty, fresh, bright and crisp… resplendent with passionfruit, just-ripe pineapple, lime and cut-grass characters.”
— Australian Wine Companion, 93 Points. (Vintage 2024). 

“The nose is fresh and vibrant, with refined aromas of lychees, orange blossoms, cut grass, candied limes and flint. The palate is light- to medium-bodied with precise acidity, a generous mouthfeel and notes of green apple skin, grapefruit pith and lemon peel.”
— James Suckling, 93 Points. (Vintage 2024). 

“It tastes the same every year, which is impressive considering the relative size of it… tightly coiled, fresh and zippy, with a distinct salsa verde character to close. This is very good.”
— Wine Advocate, 92 Points. (Vintage 2024). 

Pairs with: Oysters, grilled fish, Thai green curry, goat cheese, asparagus, or a simple summer salad.

Michel Sarrazin et Fils Givry Clos de la Roche 2024 750ml

Michel Sarrazin et Fils is a benchmark family domaine in Givry, one of the Côte Chalonnaise's most exciting appellations for Pinot Noir. The Clos de la Roche is a prized lieu-dit on the northern edge of Givry — a single-site wine grown at over 250 meters altitude on limestone-heavy soils with clay, farmed with organic practices and harvested from vines over 45 years old. This is serious Burgundy at a price that still makes sense.

The 2024 is a standout vintage for the domaine — round, juicy, and harmonious, with the kind of sappy fruit and supple structure that makes it equally compelling now or in the cellar. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, de-stemmed, and aged in barrel with 50% new oak, it delivers the full Givry terroir experience in every glass.

"Round and juicy with aromas of plums, cherries, black raspberries, violets and peppery spice on the nose. Well balanced and harmonious in the mouth with sappy fruit and supple tannins on the long satisfying finish. A very solid performance from the Sarrazin brothers!" — Bart Hopkins, 67Wine

• Producer: Michel Sarrazin et Fils, Givry, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France
• Appellation: Givry AOC — Clos de la Roche (lieu-dit)
• Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Practicing organic — indigenous yeast fermentation
• Vines: 45+ years old, 250+ meters altitude, limestone and clay soils
• Aging: Barrel aged, 50% new oak — de-stemmed
• Tasting Notes: Plum, cherry, black raspberry, violet, peppery spice, sappy fruit, supple tannins, long finish
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Époisses

A great lieu-dit from one of Givry's most reliable family estates — the Clos de la Roche 2023 is the kind of village Burgundy that reminds you why this region is worth every penny.

Pheasant's Tears | Kisi | Qvevri Amber Wine | Kakheti, Republic of Georgia | 2024 | Organic

Pheasant's Tears is one of Georgia's most celebrated natural wine producers, founded by Gela Patalishvili — an 8th-generation winemaker from the Kakheti region — and John Wurdeman, an American painter who fell in love with Georgia and its ancient wine culture in 1998. Together, they have dedicated themselves to preserving and reviving Georgia's extraordinary 8,000-year-old winemaking heritage, farming around ten indigenous grape varieties without pesticides or herbicides and vinifying everything in qvevri — traditional clay amphorae buried in the earth, used in Georgia since the Neolithic era.

Kisi is a rare and ancient Georgian white grape variety grown almost exclusively in the Kakheti region, in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. At Pheasant's Tears, it is vinified in the traditional Georgian manner: fermented and aged in qvevri with extended skin maceration of six months — producing what Georgians call an "amber wine" and the rest of the world has come to know as "orange wine." The result is a wine of extraordinary depth, texture, and complexity that has no real equivalent in the conventional wine world.

The 2024 Kisi is deep amber-gold in the glass. The nose is captivating — dried apricot, quince, honey, beeswax, dried flowers, and a hint of walnut, with an earthy, almost ancient quality that speaks directly to the qvevri. On the palate, unusually powerful structure with grippy, polished tannins — rare in a white wine — balanced by bright acidity and a long, complex, spiced finish. Not aggressive, but deeply serious. A wine that transports you elsewhere entirely.

Made from certified organic grapes. Pair with spiced lamb, charcuterie, aged Parmesan, old Comté, washed-rind cheeses, roasted root vegetables, and dishes with Middle Eastern or Caucasian spice profiles.

• Producer: Pheasant's Tears
• Grape: Kisi
• Style: Qvevri Amber Wine (Orange Wine)
• Region: Kakheti, Republic of Georgia
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Vinification: Fermented and aged in qvevri (buried clay amphorae); 6-month skin maceration
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Hirsch · The Bohan-Dillon Pinot Noir · Sonoma Coast 2024

This 2024 Bohan-Dillon is a generous, youthful Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir built for the table. Cherries, ripe strawberries and cassis lead, followed by plum skin, wet stone and a note of redwood forest as the wine opens in the glass. Its juicy, mouthwatering palate makes it an easy companion to roast chicken, salmon or mushroom dishes.

Producer Description

The Bohan-Dillon is an authentic, handmade Pinot Noir that is delicious young and effortlessly food-friendly. The 2024 Bohan-Dillon is a charming, exuberant wine with lots of personality and character. It opens with a bouquet of cherries, ripe strawberries and cassis. With air, notes of plum skin, wet stone and redwood forest emerge. On the palate, it’s juicy and mouthwatering, with an easy, irresistible drinkability. Delicious upon release and effortlessly food-friendly, this wine can be enjoyed young and pair with a wide variety of foods.

Hirsch · Producer Description

Expert Review · 2024 Vintage

Purity and freshness with sliced strawberries, minerals and hints of flint. Some volcanic undertones. There’s an edge this year that gives it energy.

James Suckling · 94 points

About Hirsch

Hirsch describes its vineyard practices as Biodynamic, organic and regenerative. Since 2011, the estate says it has farmed its 72 acres of vines, along with gardens and orchards, using those practices, with work focused on bringing each vine into balance.

At a Glance

• Producer: Hirsch
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Sonoma Coast, California, USA
• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Size: 750ml

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Erin Brooks of The Wine Advocate 95 Points | I tasted the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley about a month after it was bottled, but it doesn't seem to matter—it bursts from the glass with generous pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry preserves aromas and accents of orange peel, aniseed and tea leaves. The palate is stunning: it strikes a balance between highly concentrated, nuanced fruit and an uplifted, silky structure, and it has a particularly elegant finish. 

James Suckling 94 Points | Wild and vibrant nose of rosemary, cherry stones, small strawberries, violets and seaweed. So fresh, with a medium body and powdery tannins. I like the persistent fine, chalky texture. Unfined and unfiltered. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 94 Points |  Sleek, graceful and elegantly proportioned, with expressive violet, raspberry, guava and black tea flavors that jump out of the glass and gather richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Decanter 93 Points | Sourced from 13 vineyards throughout the Valley, though predominantly Star Morring and Doration vineyards. Aromas of violets and crushed stone hint at edginess. The palate offers sappy blackberries and bright, fresh fruits backed by spearmint. There is an excellent lingering juiciness and a finish that goes on for minutes.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Deep ruby with a purple tinge, the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is generous and attractive, with a pure and spicy perfume of pressed flowers, wild raspberry preserve, and brambly herbs. Approachable and drinking well out of the gate, this medium to full-bodied red is ripe with juicy fruit, good structure, ripe tannins, and pithy texture, as well as a touch of warming spice on a long finish. It’s a solid appellation wine that casts a very large net for appeal. Drink 2024-2030. - Audrey Frick

Vinous 91 Points |  The 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is lifted and pure with a cool-toned bouquet of dusty florals, lavender and spice-dusted blackberries. Soft and round, it casts violet inner florals and wild berries across the palate, taking on a saline tinge and hints of licorice toward the close. The 2021 finishes remarkably fresh and with a pleasantly chewy sensation, leaving slowly fading inner rose tones. -- Eric Guido

GAJA · Sito Moresco Rosso · Langhe · 2022

GAJA Sito Moresco Rosso 2022 brings together Nebbiolo and Barbera in a red from the Langhe in Piedmont, Italy. Its name recalls Moresco, the previous owner of a parcel in the Pajorè vineyard purchased in 1979.

For the table, consider this 750ml bottle with a Piedmont-inspired meal of mushroom pasta, braised meat or aged cheese. The earlier-vintage producer notes below offer background on Sito Moresco while remaining distinct from this 2022 bottling.

Producer Background

GAJA: The name derives from Moresco, the previous owner of the parcel in Pajorè vineyard which was purchased in 1979.

Historical Winemaker Notes · Vintage 2021

GAJA · 2021 Growing Season: Abundant snowfall and low temperatures led to an unusually severe, rainy winter, followed by a dry spring. Temperatures picked up again in mid-March, accelerating the plant life cycle.

Unfortunately, the cold temperatures returned in early April with icy winds that channeled through the valleys and affected the lower vineyards, especially in the Barbaresco area.

Other Barbaresco vineyards affected by frost recorded minimal losses of 5%. Our Barolo vineyards are located at higher altitudes and survived the frost unscathed. The summer rolled out dramatically with a bright and windy start, hot and violent midseason, characterized by frequent thunderstorms, and ended hot and dry.

While both benefited from thunderstorms that cooled the land, powdery mildew became a real threat in Barbaresco in July. A redeeming rainfall came at the end of August, refreshing the Barbaresco and Barolo vineyards.

2021 was a late vintage, tending to be dry but cool, resulting in wines of great volume and richness marked by savoriness and length, generous even on the nose, with intense and complex aromas.

Winemaking · Supplied With the 2021 Notes: The two varieties ferment and macerate separately for three weeks. After the malolactic fermentation, they are blended and then aged in oak for 12 months.

Tasting Description · Vintage 2021: A beautiful violet color atypical of Nebbiolo but reflective of the 2021 vintage where fullness and richness are even present to the eye. The wine has bold notes of blackberry, cherry, blood orange, and bergamot with a touch of flintiness. Medium-structured with lots of juiciness and harmony on the palate all lead to well-balanced acidity and tannin structure with a long finish.

Food Pairings & Serving

Suggested pairings include mushroom tagliatelle, braised beef, roast pork or aged hard cheeses. Serve slightly below room temperature and allow time in the glass to explore the wine.

Wine Details

• Producer: GAJA
• Wine: Sito Moresco Rosso
• Vintage: 2022
• Origin: Langhe, Piedmont, Italy
• Grapes: Nebbiolo and Barbera
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml

A Langhe red for a thoughtfully paired meal and a closer look at GAJA's range.

Moët & Chandon · Grand Vintage · 2016 · Extra Brut

The 77th vintage Champagne in the history of Moët & Chandon, Grand Vintage 2016 reflects the Cellar Master’s personal interpretation of a challenging year. The blend combines 48% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, and 18% Meunier, with six years of cellar aging and at least six months of aging after disgorgement.

Vintage & Character

The supplied notes describe a turbulent growing season followed by well-ripened fruit. Baked bread, hazelnut, orange blossom, and fine minerality shape the wine’s layered profile, while a round, supple palate is framed by structure and tension. A dosage of 5 g/L completes its Extra Brut style.

Winemaker Description

Moët & Chandon · Supplied 2016 Notes
The 2016 Grand Vintage Extra Brut is the 77th vintage Champagne released by Moët & Chandon. Comprising 34% Pinot Noir, 48% Chardonnay and 18% Meunier, it was aged for six years prior to disgorgement. It will offer complex, layered aromas and flavours, including baked bread, hazelnut, orange blossoms, and fine minerality, all framed by superb structure and tension. A classic in every sense.

Each Grand Vintage is unique, expressing Moët & Chandon’s Cellar Master's personal interpretation of the year. In Champagne, 2016 was a year of turbulent weather, full of twists and turns at the whim of nature.

The serenity after the storm, Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 expresses grace and peace, harmony born from masterful winemaking and six years resting in the cellars. The 77th vintage in the history of the House, Grand Vintage 2016 is a radiant champagne with a round and supple palate.

The grape harvest of 2016 in Champagne reflects the region's traditional unpredictability. Winter was wet and a cool causing some mildew and grape loss, followed by a rainy spring and a summer that dried the vineyards but also led to water stress and further fruit loss.

Despite these challenges, the remaining grapes ripened well, especially the Meuniers and Pinots Noirs.

Serving & Pairing

Serve chilled in a tulip-shaped or white-wine glass. Suggested pairings include roast chicken, seared scallops, or a mushroom dish, complementing the wine’s bread, hazelnut, and mineral notes.

Details

• Producer: Moët & Chandon
• Cuvée: Grand Vintage
• Vintage: 2016
• Origin: Champagne, France
• Style: Extra Brut
• Blend: 48% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, 18% Meunier
• Cellar aging: Six years
• Aging after disgorgement: At least six months
• Dosage: 5 g/L
• Bottle size: 750ml

A layered vintage Champagne balancing a supple palate with structure and tension.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Australian Wine Companion 91 Points | Yalumba continues to grace us with a range of wines made from viognier, from entry-level to aspirational, that convey a deep understanding of both the variety and site. Pale straw with green flashes and aromas of lemon, grapefruit and apricot along with hints of lemon sorbet, wildflowers, a liminal whiff of white pepper and stone. Flecks of dried herbs join in on the palate, which is stony and savoury, lingering nicely as it fades away. A great introduction to the variety. 

James Suckling 91 Points | A fresh, juicy and precise viognier with aroma of peaches, apricots and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Vivid and playful, with a refreshing finish.

Producer Description 

With 175 years of unbroken independence, Yalumba continues to make wine at its founder's home estate under the direction of the same family today. Samuel's Collection honors Yalumba's founder Samuel Smith, his spirit of independence and conviction to invest in the land and make great wine.

Pure aromas reminiscent of fresh apricots, lifted ginger, saffron and fresh white flowers. The palate is long, rich, and luscious, with intense and expressive stone fruit flavors finishing with an alluring freshness. This wine will continue to grow and develop in the bottle, firstly showing enhanced apricots and spice, then honey flavors and toast complexity.

Enjoy with a Moroccan tagine and couscous, or baba ghanoush.

Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc 2020 · Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling, 94 Points — This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Vinous, 93 Points — The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo!

The Wine Advocate, 92 Points — The 2020 Sociando-Mallet is very attractive, exhibiting aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with lively acids and powdery tannins, it's a strong effort from a site that always does well in warm vintages. The 2020 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Decanter, 92 Points — Wonderfully fragrant on the nose, just stopping short of being potent. Glorious perfumed scents and rich, ripe black fruits. Clean and clear, this has a lively energy to it and a little bit of liquorice which gives a savoury, dark and sticky edge to the fruit. Clarity, classicism and precision on show. Sculpted, muscular, grippy and chewy. Excellent potential with a slate and coffee-toned finish.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Region: Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France
• Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
• Type: Red

Weingut Forstreiter | Grüner Veltliner Tabor | Kremstal DAC | Niederösterreich, Austria | 2021

Weingut Forstreiter is one of the Kremstal's most respected family estates, farming sustainably on the steep terraced vineyards above the Danube in Niederösterreich — Lower Austria. The Kremstal DAC is one of Austria's premier appellations for Grüner Veltliner, where the combination of loess and primary rock soils, the moderating influence of the Danube, and the continental climate produce wines of exceptional concentration, mineral precision, and longevity.

The Tabor is Forstreiter's single-vineyard flagship Grüner Veltliner, always hand-harvested at the very end of the harvest season to achieve maximum ripeness without botrytis. The result is a monumental and complex expression of the variety — a wine that inspires with its concentration, aromatic complexity, clarity, and youthfulness.

The 2021 opens with a dense, powerful bouquet that evolves beautifully with air — ripe aromas of green sugar snap peas, sweet citrus, overripe banana, dried apricot, and candied ginger, with a great arc of tension between warm, ripe fruit and cool mineral precision. On the palate, medium-bodied and vibrant with apple, green melon, white chocolate, and lemon fruit, underscored by a crunchy minerality. The finish is long, citrusy, and stony, marked by loads of white pepper — the hallmark of great Grüner Veltliner.

Pair with Wiener Schnitzel, grilled fish, sushi, white asparagus, light pasta, and soft cheeses. Also exceptional as an aperitivo.

• Producer: Weingut Forstreiter
• Vineyard: Tabor
• Appellation: Kremstal DAC, Niederösterreich, Austria
• Grape: Grüner Veltliner
• Vintage: 2021
• Harvest: Hand-picked; end of harvest season
• Farming: Sustainable
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2021

• Wine Enthusiast — 92 pts: Medium-bodied and vibrant — apple, green melon, white chocolate and lemon fruit underscored by a crunchy minerality. Finish is marked by loads of white pepper and a long, citrusy and stony aftertaste. — Aleks Zecevic

Masi Campofiorin Ripasso — Rosso del Veronese, Veneto, Italy 2023

Masi Agricola is one of Italy’s most historic wine estates — a family winery whose roots stretch back to 1772, when the Boscaini family first harvested in the prized vineyards of Vajo dei Masi in the heart of Valpolicella Classica. Born in 1964, Campofiorin is Masi’s original “Super-Venetian” — internationally recognized as the creator of a new category of Veneto wines inspired by the Amarone ripasso technique, and described by Burton Anderson as “a wine of stupendous size and complexity.” The 2023 is crafted from Corvina and complementary varietals, with delayed harvest and an increased percentage of dried grapes to achieve an even more harmonious, full-bodied, and integrally fruity expression. The result is a rich, smooth, and velvety red that combines simplicity and grace with strength and majesty — and overdelivers at its price point.

The nose is warm and inviting: ripe cherries, sweet spices, and berry fruit with a depth that signals the influence of the ripasso technique. On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied with intense cherry and berry fruit, soft tannins, good length, and a smooth, lingering finish. It is versatile, crowd-pleasing, and deeply satisfying — the kind of Veneto classic that works from aperitivo to serious dinner with equal ease.

"Rich, smooth and velvety, yet approachable and versatile at table. Marrying simplicity and grace with strength and majesty. Born in 1964, Campofiorin is one of the world’s best-loved traditional Italian classics, internationally recognised as a ‘wine of stupendous size and complexity’ — the creator of a new category of Veneto wines inspired by the Amarone technique." — Masi Agricola

• Producer: Masi Agricola, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy (est. 1772)
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Rosso del Veronese IGT, Veneto, Italy
• Varietal: Corvina and complementary Veneto varietals
• Technique: Ripasso — re-fermented on dried Amarone grape skins for richness & complexity
• Closure: Cork
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe cherry, sweet spice, berry fruit, soft tannins, rich and velvety finish
• Best Paired With: Richly-sauced pasta, grilled and roasted red meats, aged cheeses, risotto al tardo, braised short ribs

Italy’s original Super-Venetian at an honest price — Masi Campofiorin is the benchmark for what Amarone-inspired Ripasso from the Veneto can deliver.

Luis Perez El Muelle de Olaso Blanco VdT Cadiz 2023 750ml

Willy Pérez is one of the most exciting winemakers working in the Sherry region today — and El Muelle de Olaso is the wine that proves it. Made from 100% Palomino Fino sourced from 40- to 50-year-old vines on the legendary albariza marl soils of Macharnudo and Carrascal, this is a Vino de Pasto in the old tradition: a dry, still table wine from Jerez that has nothing to do with Sherry and everything to do with terroir. Fermented mostly in stainless steel with a touch of bota aging and brief contact with flor, El Muelle is a wine of extraordinary finesse and minerality.

The 2023 vintage is a year of nuance and detail — less concentrated than 2022 but more balanced, with a fine thread of tension running through the palate and a long, clean, and deeply satisfying finish. This is Palomino as it was always meant to taste.

"The claim that Palomino is a neutral-flavor grape is proven wrong with El Muelle — a wine with citrussy and tropical fruit flavors, lively chalky minerality, and a touch of herbal tanginess from its short contact with flor."

• Producer: Luis Pérez, Jerez, Cádiz, Spain
• Appellation: Vinos de la Tierra de Cádiz
• Grape: 100% Palomino Fino
• Vintage: 2023
• Vineyards: Macharnudo & Carrascal — 40–50 yr old vines on albariza marl
• Vinification: 80% stainless steel, 20% bota — brief flor contact — 6 months aging
• Tasting Notes: Dried pineapple, citrus, apple, light caramel, honey, cedar, chalky minerality, herbal tanginess, long clean finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled seafood, oysters, jamón ibérico, fried fish, or goat cheese

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling — 93 Points
Aromas of dried pineapple, apple and light caramel. Medium to full body. Light honey and cedar flavors. Made mostly in stainless with some natural fino in the blend. This is blended from two top vineyards of Jerez: Macharnudo and Carrascal.

Wine Advocate — 93 Points
The 2023 El Muelle de Olaso comes from a warm year but less warm than 2022 and more balanced. It was produced with Palomino grapes from 40- to 50-year-old vines on "barajuela" laminar albariza marl soils fermented mostly in stainless steel (80%) and only 20% in bota. It matured in stainless steel for six months. Pérez confessed that the wine has a little more Macharnudo wine this vintage. The wine is still a baby, primary and undeveloped but with a lot of finesse; it’s a year of less concentration, and it has nuance and detail, a fine thread and a long, clean and tasty finish.

A wine that rewrites what Palomino can be — El Muelle de Olaso is essential drinking for anyone who loves mineral-driven whites with soul.

Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Biodynamic 2022 · Burgundy, France

Winemaker Description

The Bourgogne Blanc from Domaine Leflaive has the particularity to only come from vineyards located in the town of Puligny, making it easily one of the best Bourgogne Blanc you could get your hands on. This is the perfect first step into the Domaine Leflaive’s unique offerings. All vineyards are farmed biodynamically.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Is a relatively refined texture while displaying fine depth and length for a wine of this level. The 20% addition of young vines from upper-level vineyards clearly helps and overall, this is excellent.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Region: Bourgogne, Burgundy, France
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Type: White
• Farming: Organic, Biodynamic

Expert Review- Vintage 2023

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

Producer Description 

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

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

Producer Description 

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

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

Anterra Pinot Grigio | Terre Siciliane | 2024 | 1.5 Liter Magnum

Sun-drenched and effortlessly elegant — the Anterra Pinot Grigio is grown using 100% sustainable viticulture in the dry, warm heart of Central-Western Sicily, where the variety takes on a uniquely decisive character while retaining its signature freshness. The name Anterra — "ancient land" in Italian — pays homage to Sicily's millennia-long winemaking heritage.

This 1.5 Liter Magnum is the perfect format for the table: generous, impressive, and built for sharing. Expect a pale lemon pour with aromas of tropical fruit, green apple, fresh peach, and delicate floral notes with a whisper of almond. On the palate, it's crisp, balanced, and clean — a crowd-pleaser that punches well above its price.

Food Pairing

Excellent with appetizers, flavorful soups, poultry, and seafood — particularly shellfish.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Tropical fruit, green apple, peach, floral notes, hint of almond
• Palate: Crisp, light-bodied, fresh and elegant
• Finish: Clean, refreshing, pleasantly dry

Wine Details

• Grape: 100% Pinot Grigio
• Region: Terre Siciliane, Sicily — Italy
• Vintage: 2024
• Size: 1.5 Liter Magnum
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Farming: 100% Sustainable

Ridge Vineyards · Geyserville · Alexander Valley 2021

This 2021 Alexander Valley red blend brings together Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. The winemaker lists Zinfandel as 69% of the blend, with the other varieties in smaller proportions.

Ripe cranberry and cassis open into dark bramble fruit, cocoa and clove. Vibrant acidity carries the opulent fruit through a long, elegant finish; critics also note plum, blueberry, pepper, blackberry and herbal complexity. The review sources give differing blend percentages, so each is kept with its own attribution below.

Winemaker Description · blend
Ripe cranberry and cassis on the nose. Focused dark bramble fruit on the palate, layered with cocoa and clove. Vibrant acidity balances beautifully with opulent fruit and carries through to a long and elegant finish. Blend: 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro.

Wine & Spirits · 95 Points · 2021
When Geyserville hits in a great vintage, it takes me back to what I originally loved about California wine. Or to that sense of optimism on a spring day when I first visited San Francisco in 1984, to pitch this magazine on publishing services. I didn’t know at the time that I would still be publishing it 40 years later, and I didn’t know how much California wine would change. Or how little the style and intention of Geyserville would change. The team at Ridge manages the vineyard’s generations of vines to produce complex wines like this perfectly ripe 2021, with its dark, resinous scents of marijuana, its deep layers of rich fruit and the fruitiness of detailed tannins. The fresh, herbal complexity is pretty epic and the richness doesn’t stop. What I want from California.

Wine Enthusiast · 94 Points · Cellar Selection · 2021
Toasted oak and wood-smoke aromas lead to equally smoky, spicy flavors of black pepper, blackberry jam and maple in this full-bodied, muscular and firmly tannic wine. Great to pair with barbecue and hatchet throwing. The Zinfandel grapes were supplemented with 16% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2025-2035.

Jeb Dunnuck · 93 Points · 2021
The 2021 Geyserville checks in as 76% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, and the rest Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. It has a pure, expressive bouquet of fresh plums, figs, mulberries, peppery herbs, leather, and vanilla bean, and it takes some air to show at its best, gaining depth and richness with time in the glass. This medium to full-bodied, spicy, elegant red blend has a touch more oak present than I'm accustomed to, but it has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length. It's going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age. Rating: 93+

Wine Spectator · 93 Points · 2021
Tightly focused and briary, this blend offers density without weight. Presents plum and blueberry flavors accented by dill and green peppercorn as this builds tension toward medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet.

• Producer: Ridge Vineyards
• Wine: Geyserville
• Vintage: 2021
• Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Style: Zinfandel-led red blend
• Blend (winemaker description): 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro
• Size: 375ml half bottle

Geyserville’s layered fruit, spice and vibrant acidity make this half bottle a distinctive expression of Alexander Valley.

Bodega Garzón · Tannat Reserva · Uruguay · 2024

Bodega Garzón Tannat Reserva 2024 combines dark-fruit depth with a supple mouthfeel and firm structure. Black fruit and anise meet a juicy, savory finish, making this Uruguayan red a flavorful partner for roasted meats.

Producer & Winemaking

With consultant Alberto Antonini, Bodega Garzón emphasizes an approachable, fresh expression of Tannat and its coastal terroir. The 2024 Reserva is entirely Tannat, fermented in cement and aged in oak for 6–12 months.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling · 91 Points  Dark cherries and inky blackberries in a slightly monolithic mode. Medium- to full-bodied, with good fruit and firm, tight-wound tannins. Juicy and savory in its medium-length finish.

Jeb Dunnuck · 90 Points · A full-bodied wine that's all varietal, the 2024 Tannat Reserva is cement-fermented and oak-aged over 6-12 months, supple in mouthfeel with chalky black fruit and anise.

Wine Enthusiast · 90 Points · Vintage Not Specified. Crushed dark berries shape the nose of this approachable Tannat. The soft palate is full of fruit flavors with dark berry character. It’s firm and juicy throughout.

Winemaker Description

Reserva Tannat is an ideal complement to roasted game meat, but its most traditional pairing is with simmered leg of lamb with sage, mint, and garlic.

Pairing & Serving

Try roasted game or slow-cooked lamb with sage, mint and garlic. Serve slightly below room temperature and allow time in the glass for the wine to open.

Details

• Producer: Bodega Garzón
• Vintage: 2024
• Country: Uruguay
• Grape: Tannat
• Type: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Fermentation: Cement
• Aging: 6–12 months in oak

Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot · Bourgogne Blanc · 2023

Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Bourgogne Blanc 2023 is a Chardonnay from Burgundy, France, offered in a 750ml bottle. It introduces the domaine's white wines through the regional Bourgogne appellation, making it a natural choice for a meal centered on roast chicken, fish or soft cheese.

Producer & Context

The existing estate notes describe Domaine Matrot as a Côte de Beaune family estate with vineyards concentrated in Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault-Blagny. They emphasize the attention given to the Bourgogne Blanc alongside the domaine's higher-tier cuvées.

Staff Review · Vintage Not Specified

Bart Hopkins

“This fabulous Bourgogne is a dead ringer for a top quality Meursault… round and fleshy with flavors and aromas of white peach, pear and nectarine. Plump in the mouth with a delightful mid palate that finishes with lively freshness and just a shade of toasty oak.”

This staff review was carried in the previous listing without a stated vintage; it is not presented as a confirmed tasting note for 2023.

Previous Listing Notes · Vintage 2022

The earlier description characterized the 2022 as round and fleshy, with white peach, pear and nectarine, mid-palate richness, lively freshness and a shade of toasty oak. It also described hand-harvesting from 20-year-old vines near Meursault, whole-bunch pressing, indigenous-yeast fermentation in oak barrels with 20% new oak, complete malolactic fermentation and 12 months of lees aging without stirring. These details are retained as historical listing context and have not been established for the 2023 vintage.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Try with roast chicken, grilled fish, lobster bisque, vegetarian dishes or soft Burgundian cheeses.

Details

• Producer: Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot
• Wine: Bourgogne Blanc
• Vintage: 2023
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Bourgogne
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Type: White wine

Expert Notes

Stephan Reinhardt writes:  The 2021 Sand & Kalk is a pure Weissburgunder (a.k.a. Pinot Blanc) that was vinified in 600-liter oak barrels (5% new) for almost a year. Bottled in September this year and released in November, the wine offers a clear and aromatic, very elegant and balanced bouquet of ripe, white and yellow seed fruits. Medium-bodied yet dense and intensely fruity, with fine phenolic grip and delicate citrus bitters, this is a textural and very elegant Pinot Blanc with a refreshing and stimulating bitter finish with lingering lemon aromas. This is another excellent white that should be paired with raw fish, freshwater fish, seafood, white meat or cheese. This is a lovely, uncomplicated but structured terroir wine for the Buchertberg in Vulkanland Steiermark. Marketed as Landwein, though. 12.5% stated alcohol. Screw-cap closure.  Drinking 2023 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91

Winemaker Description 

Seductively fresh Pinot Blanc with orange zest, honeysuckle flowers, and lemongrass and a luscious texture from the bit of skin contact that we greet us like a big soft hug. He manages to coax an intense amount of flavor out a relatively neutral grape, and we think it could go with anything from a bitter green salad with winter citrus to roasted chicken, pork tenderloin or seared scallops. This could easily be our everyday white! 

Because it has a nice, round body and prominent fruit, it also works as a Chardonnay alternative for those seeking a white with a bit more meat on the bones.

The HERRENHOF was a former wine estate of the Vorau Abbey. I started this project in 2006 from scratch, without vines. It required me 15 years to rebuild the winery. Since I have always been very close to nature, it is clear to me that I grow and vinify my wines exclusively organically. I want to bring the taste of the land where I grew up into the bottle of wine. Gottfried Lamprecht. 

The wine project at the HERRENHOF is pretty young. I've started to recutivate vineyards on this perfect slope in the year 2006 completely from the scratch. My mission: I want to present the Buchertberg, the place where I grew up in a bottle of wine. Because wine just can do that! Everything is harvested by hand of course. What makes me a special wine grower? I ferment 100% in barrels. 50% of my barrels are made of wood from my own forest. This brings my wines much closer to my terroir - closer to the Buchertberg, the place where I grew up. After fermentation the wines stay on their lees till bottling. Prior bottling I just about 20mg of Sulphur or less, or nothing and anything else. It depends on the wine.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars — AVETA Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Appellation: Napa Valley, California | Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc | Format: 750ml

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars needs no introduction — the Napa Valley estate that stunned the world at the 1976 Paris Tasting with its Cabernet Sauvignon is equally masterful with white wine. AVETA, named for the Celtic goddess of springs and water, is their Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc: a wine of remarkable freshness, aromatic complexity, and thirst-quenching precision that stands apart from the richer, oak-driven California white wine style.

The 2022 is bright, lively, and unmistakably Napa — fragrant, fruit-forward, and built for the table.

Critical Acclaim

Wine Enthusiast — 92 Points
“Lively aromas and inviting flavors of mixed tropical fruits, wild grasses and wet stones make this wine mouthwatering and inviting through a lengthy finish.”

Winemaker’s Notes

Fragrant aromas of grapefruit, lemongrass, citrus, lychee, and orange blossom. Bright and lively on the palate with thirst-quenching acidity and pure flavors of mandarin orange and honeysuckle that lead to a lasting aftertaste.

Wine Details

• Producer: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
• Appellation: Napa Valley, California
• Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 750ml

Food Pairings

Fresh fish ceviche, crab cakes, grilled oysters with mignonette sauce, sushi, goat cheese, and light citrus-dressed salads.

4 Monos Viticultores GR 10 Tinto · Sierra de Gredos · 2024

4 Monos, meaning “four monkeys,” began with four wine-loving friends who met while hiking in the Gredos mountains. Their first vintage together was 2010. The project champions organic farming and the varied mountain landscapes west of Madrid, where old bush vines grow on sand, granite and schist.

GR 10 is the team’s regional, Garnacha-led red, drawn from parcels in Cadalso de los Vidrios, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Cenicientos. The existing notes describe red fruit, pepper and earth, with whole bunches contributing texture. Try it slightly chilled alongside a charcuterie board.

Winemaker Description

This fun Spanish wine project is the brainchild of four friends who share a similar philosophy on viticulture and winemaking. This affordable 'Tinto' hails from the Sierra de Gredos region of Spain and is dominated by Grenache.

GR-10 Tinto is the team's Vino de Sierra or "villages level" red from several parcels in Cadalso de los Vidrios, San Martín de Valdeiglesias & Cenicientos. The grapes are typically cold macerated 50% whole cluster and 50% de-stemmed, wild yeast fermented for 30-40 days, then raised in 300, 400 and 500 liter used barrels for 9 months.

About 50% of whole bunches are used, which add texture and weight to this easy-drinking wine. Notes of red fruit, pepper, and earth make this wine perfect for sipping chilled alongside charcuterie boards.

4 Monos · Winemaking and tasting notes from the existing listing

At a glance

• Producer: 4 Monos Viticultores
• Wine: GR 10 Tinto
• Vintage: 2024
• Origin: Sierra de Gredos, Spain
• Appellation listed: Vinos de Madrid
• Style: Garnacha-led red wine
• Farming: Organic practices described by the producer
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting notes: Red fruit, pepper and earth
• Serving suggestion: Slightly chilled with charcuterie

A mountain-grown Spanish red with fruit, spice and an easy place at the table.

Antinori Santa Cristina Chianti Superiore 2024 · Tuscany, Italy · 750ml

Producer and Style

From one of Italy’s most storied wine dynasties, the Antinori family has been crafting wine in Tuscany for over six centuries. Santa Cristina Chianti Superiore is rooted in Tuscan tradition, with soft, velvety tannins and a refreshing, food-friendly palate. This Sangiovese-based blend offers a versatile expression of Tuscan red wine.

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes · 2023

The existing listing’s tasting notes describe the 2023 vintage: ruby red with purplish highlights, with a nose rich in morello cherry, aromatic herbs, and balsamic notes. On the palate it is soft and mouth-filling, with velvety tannins and a long, savory finish. These notes are provided as prior-vintage context, not as a confirmed tasting note for 2024.

Food Pairings

Pasta with tomato-based sauces, pizza, grilled meats, aged pecorino, and charcuterie boards.

Details

• Producer: Marchesi Antinori
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Vintage: 2024
• Region: Tuscany, Italy
• Appellation: Chianti Superiore DOCG
• Grape: Sangiovese-based blend
• Type: Red

Santa Barbara's Finest Syrah — Beckmen's Purisima Mountain Vineyard

Beckmen Vineyards has been one of Santa Barbara County's most celebrated estates since 1996, farming organically and biodynamically on the legendary Purisima Mountain Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. Their Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah is the flagship expression of this extraordinary site — a wine that captures the unique combination of intense California sunshine, cool Pacific breezes, and volcanic soils that make Ballard Canyon one of America's most exciting Syrah appellations. The 2020 vintage, despite the heat, retained beautiful acidity that balances the bold, rich flavors with classic texture and structure.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

• Jeb Dunnuck — 92 pts: "Blueberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and some flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward, plush, sexy little gem of a Syrah that will offer loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years or more. Completely destemmed and brought up in 35% new French oak."

Winemaker Notes

Beckmen Vineyards Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard 2020 750ml

Classic Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah aromas and flavors of black fruits, chocolate, game, pepper, and smoke are ripe and intense in the 2020 vintage. Very ripe, fine tannins frame the bold flavors and rounded texture. Through all the heat of the vintage, the fruit retained beautiful acidity which balances the bold and rich flavors — creating an awesome vintage with classic texture and structure.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Syrah
• Appellation: Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County
• Producer: Beckmen Vineyards
• Vintage: 2020
• Farming: Certified Organic & Biodynamic
• Aging: 35% new French oak
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Built for bold flavors — exceptional with grilled lamb chops, smoked brisket, wild boar, duck confit, aged cheddar, and hearty mushroom dishes.

Priorat and old vines usually mean a serious price tag. This one breaks the rule. La Garnatxa Fosca is part of Raúl Acha's Proyecto Garnachas de España — a mission to preserve and celebrate Spain's ancient Garnacha vines — and the fruit here comes from 60-year-old vines grown on Priorat's famous llicorella, the dark, slate-rich soils that give the region its unmistakable mineral signature. The result is a wine of genuine complexity: dark red fruit, iron-laced minerality, and a structure that feels far more serious than the price suggests. Rich and full-bodied, yet balanced with elegance and length. This is Priorat doing exactly what it does best, at a price that makes it an easy yes.

• Grape: Garnatxa Negre (Garnacha)
• Region: Priorat DOQ, Catalonia, Spain
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 750ml
• Vines: ~60 years old, llicorella slate soils

Food Pairing

Grilled lamb chops with rosemary, venison, thick ribeye, jamón ibérico, Manchego, rich oxtail stew, or roasted root vegetables with smoked paprika.

Argentina's Most Iconic Grape — Layer Cake Malbec from Mendoza

Layer Cake wines are crafted by celebrated winemaker Jayson Woodbridge, sourcing from the world's finest vineyards to deliver bold, expressive wines at an exceptional price point. Their Mendoza Malbec is anchored by fruit from the legendary Sea of Stones vineyard — a site defined by deep alluvial cobblestones that lend a distinctive thread of minerality to every vintage. The 2022 is a rich, layered, and deeply satisfying Malbec that punches well above its price.

Winemaker Notes

Layer Cake Malbec Mendoza 2022 750ml

Big, brooding black fruit with a slight hint of cherry, earthy truffles, and dark cocoa lead the way. The Sea of Stones vineyard is always evident — a thread of minerality from the deep alluvial cobblestones runs through the wine. Elegant on the palate with fresh-picked blackberries, simmering chocolate, and a savory depth that keeps you coming back. So many layers, so little time.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Malbec
• Appellation: Mendoza, Argentina
• Vineyard: Sea of Stones
• Producer: Layer Cake (Jayson Woodbridge)
• Vintage: 2022
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Made for the grill — exceptional with traditional Argentinian asado, grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, beets with truffle, dark berry desserts, and aged hard cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The San Felice 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio (made with 80% Sangiovese and 20% complementary indigenous grapes) stands out due to its velvety richness and expressive flavor profile. The wine delivers measured intensity with bright purple and black fruits, a good sense of energy and drive, and some lingering spiciness on the close. It is rich but not heavy.

James Suckling 93 Points | This is spiced and racy with dark cherries, currants, savory herbs, walnuts and sandalwood. Medium- to full-bodied with ripe, powdery tannins, juicy acidity and a mineral backbone on the palate. Bright and fruit-forward in the finish. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description 

Light, crisp and refreshing. Honeyed peach, apples and honeydew melon notes. Off dry, with lots of stone fruit on the palate. Light in body and medium, crisp acidity.

Perfect with Asian food.

Klinker Brick Winery · Lodi, California · 2022

Klinker Brick Winery has been farming Lodi's ancient vineyards for over a century, with some blocks dating back more than 120 years. The Old Vine Zinfandel is the winery's flagship — now in its 20th consecutive vintage — and a true expression of what makes Lodi one of California's most compelling Zinfandel regions. Cool Delta breezes and morning fog moderate the warm growing season, preserving the bright acidity that sets Klinker Brick apart from riper, jammier styles.

The 2022 Old Vine Zinfandel opens with aromas of dark cherry and warm spice, with the concentration that only century-old, extremely low-yielding vines can deliver. On the palate, notes of plum and cranberry unfold alongside a hint of black pepper, balanced by above-average acidity and a structure built through barrel fermentation. Complex, layered, and endlessly food-friendly.

• Producer: Klinker Brick Winery
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Lodi, California
• Grape Variety: Zinfandel (Old Vine, up to 120 years)
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark cherry, plum, cranberry, warm spice, black pepper, bright acidity
• Food Pairings: BBQ brisket, grilled lamb, smoked sausage, hearty stews

A benchmark Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel — drink now through 2028.

In 1976, a bottle of Château Montelena Chardonnay shocked the wine world by beating the finest white Burgundies at the Judgment of Paris. That moment put California wine on the map — and Montelena on a pedestal it has never left. Founded in 1882 in Calistoga at the northern end of Napa Valley, the estate has spent over a century building one of California's most enduring legacies, defined by a commitment to classic structure, restraint, and wines that age with grace.

The Château Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022 750ml is sourced from the Montelena estate and prime neighboring vineyards around Calistoga, on alluvium soils that deliver earthy, complex, and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged in oak, it reveals layers of pomegranate, plum, and dried blackberry, with aromas of barrel toast, potpourri, and black pepper. On the palate, bright fruit and firm tannins tie together with fresh mint and graphite, finishing with earth, baking spices, toasted almond, and chalky tannins. More acid, more balance, more longevity than the typical Napa Cab — this is old-world structure with California sunshine.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Pomegranate, plum, dried blackberry, barrel toast, potpourri, and black pepper
• Palate: Bright fruit, firm tannins, fresh mint, graphite, dark chocolate, and tobacco
• Finish: Long and lingering with earth, baking spices, toasted almond, and chalky tannins

Wine Details

• Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
• Napa Valley — Calistoga, California
• Alluvium soils | Aged in oak
• Vintage: 2022 | 750ml
• Pairs with: steak, grilled lamb, braised short ribs, wild game, mushroom risotto

Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz - Classic Australian Red

A full-bodied, well-balanced Shiraz showcasing the best grapes from South Eastern Australia's premium wine regions. This approachable red delivers ripe plum and warm spice flavors with smooth tannins and a satisfying finish.

Tasting Notes

Rich plum flavors complemented by warm spice, full-bodied with soft tannins and excellent balance. 13.5% ABV.

Perfect With

Grilled meats, hearty pasta, BBQ, aged cheeses, and pizza. Serve at room temperature for best results.

Wine Details

Region: South Eastern Australia | Volume: 750ml | Closure: Screw Cap

Descendientes de José Palacios | Pétalos | Bierzo DO | Castilla y León, Spain | 2021

Before Mencía became the darling of Northwestern Spain, Pétalos was already making waves. Descendientes de José Palacios — the project of Álvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo Pérez Palacios — has been the defining force in Bierzo’s modern renaissance, farming old-vine Mencía on ancient slate soils with biodynamic and organic principles. Pétalos is their entry wine, but it carries the full weight of the estate’s philosophy: precision, transparency, and a deep sense of place.

The 2021 is widely regarded as the finest vintage of the 2020–2022 trio. Lower alcohol than ever (13.5%), it shows a lighter, more delineated profile with the juicy, aromatic Mencía character that defines the appellation. The nose is enticing: red berries, violets, wild herbs, white pepper, and a whisper of agave. On the palate, a velvety mouthfeel and very fine, chalky tannins frame nimble red fruit with elegant structure and a long, gourmand finish. Approachable now and drinking beautifully through 2029. 320,000 bottles and 2,567 magnums produced.

Before the Mencia grape became the darling of Northwestern Spain, Petalos was already making waves. A beautifully tailored wine. Enticing aromas of red berries with underlying whiffs of violets. Poised and well integrated flavors.
Oscar Garcia, 67Wine

• Producer: Descendientes de José Palacios
• Appellation: Bierzo DO, Castilla y León, Spain
• Grape: 100% Mencía (Biodynamic, Organic)
• Vintage: 2021
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Drink: Now through 2029
• Production: 320,000 bottles + 2,567 magnums
• Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2021

• Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker — 93+ pts: Juicy, expressive, and showy. Aromatic herbs, velvety mouthfeel, very fine tannins. Very hedonistic. Drink 2023–2029.
• Zekun Shuai, James Suckling — 93 pts: Tangy white pepper, wild herbs, and red berries. Elegant and delineated with chalky tannins and nimble red fruit. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

A perfect combination of softness and concentration, matched by a masterful maturity, The 2015 Cristal Brut delivers intense and delicious aromas with a superb energy and a magical vibration.

This is a timeless champagne with a chalky temperament, sustained by its soils, freed from the sunny character of the vintage.The nose begins with hints of yellow fruit, toasted almonds and wheat from the Chardonnay, combined with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot Noir. 

Then comes the great surge of energy from the wine's structure, a vibratory intensity that transforms into a gentle caress, a silky texture interwoven with fine flavors of candied citrus and iodized spices.The vintage's chalky character thus bursts forth in a bracing, vertical effervescence, with an insistent, precise and finely honed freshness.

The finish is underpinned by subtle oaky, sappy and saline notes, which creates the ultimate sensation of delicacy and concentration.Cristal 2015 remains a wine of supreme balance and measure, resonating from the chalky nature of its soils rather than the sunny character of its vintage.

A perfect Cristal, intensely of the 2015 vintage, with enormous ageing potential.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 97 Points | The warm and dry vintage this has tremendous freshness and elegance. The complex nose of citrus blossom, mint, lemon and lime zest opens up slowly as this aerates in the glass. The wine’s ample structure is still quite firm, which is a vintage characteristic, the mousse very fine but also very lively for an eight-year-old champagne. Cristal fans will love this as it is, but a year or two more in the bottle will do a lot for the very long mineral finish of this youthful masterpiece. A cuvee of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, picked from all 45 Cristal vineyard plots. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023.

96 Points Wine Spectator | This mouthwatering Champagne has an ethereal quality, with a frame of chiseled acidity and focused precision to the pointillisme-like, vibrant mousse. Yet this shows depth and generous expression, with the finely spun notes of patisserie apple and blackberry fruit opening beautifully on the palate and through the minerally finish, with notes of grated ginger, blood orange granita, salted Marcona almond and anise.

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck | I had the opportunity to taste the 2015 Champagne Cristal twice, both at the house in Reims as well as at my home office. On both occasions, the wine offered a terrific balance of decadence and notable freshness for this vintage, which was highly expressive on opening. The release reveals layered custardy notes of lemon balm, incense, apricot, and hazelnut. Medium to full-bodied, the mousse is fluffy and rounded out beautifully through the palate. Round and approachable, it has a well-managed richness along with underlying savory sapidity and saline to keep this going over the coming three or more decades, with a chalky tannin structure to support it.

95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | If the 2014 vintage was especially open and demonstrative, the 2015 Cristal is going to require more patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp stone fruits, white flowers, crushed mint and subtle hints of buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a deep, concentrated and rather introverted core of fruit framed by chalky extract and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse. This is a serious, vinous Champagne that has considerable substance to age and may well evolve along the lines of the lovely 1985.

95 Points Decanter | An open and inviting nose references cream, oatmeal and Amalfi lemon with the slightest edge of smoke. The palate immediately strikes with a mouthwatering lemon ripeness and a juicy, mouthfilling generosity reminiscent of yellow plum. It stays true to the trademark sleekness of Cristal and speaks of the concentration of 2015. Fine mousse accentuates the fullness and roundness of the wine while the long finish hints at chalky depth which, for now, is dominated by ripe stone fruit and more of that textured, rich notion of oatmeal. Definitely a Cristal to enjoy soon.

About Psagot Winery

Perched in the Judean Hills, Psagot Winery is one of Israel's most celebrated estates, crafting wines that reflect the ancient terroir of the Benjamin Region. With a commitment to quality and tradition, Psagot has become a benchmark for Israeli fine wine.

Tasting Notes

The Homeland Red Blend is a rich, elegant expression of the Judean Hills. The nose opens with lifted dark fruit — blackberry, plum, and cassis — interwoven with subtle spice and floral notes. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet refined, with velvety tannins and a long, complex finish shaped by 24 months of aging in 300L French and Hungarian oak barrels.

Food Pairings

Lamb chops, braised short ribs, aged hard cheeses, and hearty stews. A natural centerpiece for Shabbat and holiday tables.

Kosher Certification

Kosher for Passover | Mevushal