2010 - Present Wine

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 a benchmark expression of the appellation — deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition, with soft, velvety tannins and a refreshing, food-friendly palate that makes it one of the most versatile Italian reds at this price point.

The 2023 vintage pours ruby red with purplish highlights. The nose is rich with morello cherry, aromatic herbs, and balsamic notes. On the palate it is soft and mouth-filling, with velvety tannins and a long, savory finish.

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

Varietal: Sangiovese-based blend
Style: Chianti Superiore DOCG
Producer: Marchesi Antinori
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description 

100% Gros Manseng.  The wine is of medium body with notes of spiced citrus, brioche and salty minerality.

Known for its great value, Gascogny, in the hands of a really good wine-maker like Gilles Baumann with the help of his daughter Laure Baumann since 2010, can also make excellent wines in their own right, disregarding the bargain price.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Eric Guido of Vinous Media 95 Points | "The 2019 Taurasi Radici is impossible to ignore, mixing cloves with incense, crushed stones and dried black cherries. This is saturating and intense, with a silken textural wave that ushers in masses of tart wild berry fruits and spices, all carried by a stream of vibrant acidity. It finishes long and youthfully tense, with a mineral tinge that lingers along with notes of black licorice and a sour cranberry crunch. In 2019, the Taurasi Radici is back to form. The new releases from Mastroberardino demonstrate this storied estate's ability to adapt to modern-day vintages...In fact, instead of coming across as sun-kissed or in any way dried out, they are notably energetic, with a beautiful purity of fruit and tannins that promise further development. When asked about global warming, Piero Mastroberardino explains, “We can now achieve soft tannins in a big Taurasi; the world has changed." Whether or not this is a good thing for the long term remains to be seen. As for the 2019 Taurasi Radici, it’s a drop-dead classic, and I am very excited to see how the Riservas will show two years from now. It will easily continue to impress for the next two decades or more...Mastroberardino remains a reference point producer in the region, with its eyes firmly set on the future."

James Suckling 95 Points | "Vivid dark ruby color, with aromas of blueberry jelly, earth, black truffles, toasted pepper and chocolate. Velvety on the palate, with juicy acidity, a full body and very good fruit concentration. Great complexity and polish in the finish. Drink or hold..."

Producer Notes

Full, complex and intense, with notes of cherry, violet, wild berries, and a distinctive spicy aroma. This elegant wine has flavors of plum, black cherry, strawberry and intense spices. Aged for 24 months in French oak barriques and Slavonian casks, then a minimum 24 months refinement in bottle. aging potential of 50 years or more. Pair with mature cheeses, truffles, porcini mushrooms, Ragout and other dishes with long cooked sauces and roasted red meats.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

96 Points James Suckling | Mineral, macadamia, pine nuts, white sesame and white fruit with a touch of spice. A bright and linear Capellania that shows excellent tension, freshness and complexity. Long and appetizing finish. More taut and gastronomic now. 100% viura. Drink now or hold. 

95 Points Tim Atkin | The cooler 2018 vintage was ideally suited to the production of high-quality whites like this pure Viura from a six-hectare plateau at 485 metres within the extensive Castillo Ygay estate. Modern, perfumed and poised, it has finely integrated French oak, fennel, thatch and beeswax aromas, herbal complexity and a nutty, fragrant, citrus zest palate. 2025-40 

94 Points Wine Advocate | To catch up with the current vintages that I shall review every 12 months from now on, I tasted two vintages of some of the wines, including the whites. The 2018 Capellanía is 100% Viura from the plot that names the wine. The vineyard is six hectares planted in 1945 at 485 meters altitude, the highest in the estate. It fermented in concrete, the first vintage to do so, as it was fermented in stainless steel until then, and matured in second-use French oak barrels for 22 months. It spent a further seven months in concrete, a long élevage, with the idea to produce a structured white with aging potential, while keeping the varietal character. The wine is subtle and elegant, following the path of all the wines in the portfolio here, still marked by the élevage in oak, spicy and smoky. The palate is balanced, with a nice combination of fruit and oak, with a soft texture, clean, focused and tasty. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.1 and 6.10 grams of acidity. 21,836 bottled and 688 magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2022. This is now released with the Gran Reserva back label.

Winemaker Description 

Etude Chardonnay Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros Estate — Napa Valley 2022

Etude was founded on a single, uncompromising philosophy: winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before harvest, with superior grape growing leading to wines of authentic varietal expression and a telling reflection of place. The Grace Benoist Ranch is Etude’s most prized Chardonnay vineyard — a Carneros estate site planted with heritage clones including the legendary Wente selection, one of California’s oldest and most revered Chardonnay clones. Carneros sits at the southern tip of Napa Valley, where the cooling influence of San Pablo Bay moderates temperatures and extends the growing season, producing Chardonnay of exceptional focus, complexity, and longevity. This is a micro-production wine — just 145 cases produced — and James Suckling awarded it 97 points, calling it reminiscent of the great white Burgundies of the 1980s and early 1990s. At this price, it is one of the most extraordinary values in California Chardonnay.

The color is a luminous golden straw. The nose is complex and captivating: dried grape skin, beeswax, cooked apple, subtle wood, and a clarity and focus that is immediately striking. On the palate, it is full and powerful — rich and concentrated yet always precise, with the structure and depth of a great white Burgundy. The finish is long, layered, and built for the cellar. Drinkable now but will reward 3–4 years of patience — and likely much more.

James Suckling 97 — “Lots of dried grape skin and subtle wood and beeswax aromas with lovely hints of cooked apple, yet it’s always clear and focused. Full and powerful, reminding me of the great white Burgundies of the 1980s and early 1990s. Superb. Only 145 cases.” (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Etude Wines, Carneros, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Carneros, Napa Valley
• Vineyard: Grace Benoist Ranch — Carneros Estate
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Clones: Heritage clones including Wente selection
• Production: 145 cases — micro-production
• Style: Full, powerful, Burgundian-inspired Carneros Chardonnay
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dried grape skin, beeswax, cooked apple, subtle wood, focused and precise, long structured finish
• Drink Window: Now–2030+
• Best Paired With: Lobster, crab, roast chicken, veal, creamy pasta, aged Gruyère

One of California’s most extraordinary Chardonnays — Etude Grace Benoist Ranch 2022 is 97 points and 145 cases of pure Carneros magic.

Chateau Carbonnieux WHITE Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classé 2023

Explore the elegance of Chateau Carbonnieux, one of the distinguished names in the Pessac-Leognan region, known for producing exceptional white wines. The 2023 vintage showcases the estate's commitment to quality, offering a finely balanced wine that reflects the terroir beautifully. With a rich history dating back to the 13th century, Chateau Carbonnieux has established itself as a Grand Cru Classé, known for its meticulous vineyard practices and sustainable viticulture. Each bottle is a testament to the tradition and innovation that has shaped the estate over centuries.

Expert Recognition - 2023 Vintage

Wine Enthusiast - 96 Points (Cellar Selection)
"The grapefruit and honey aromas of this wine are echoed in its crisp and rounded textures. It is ripe with apple and spice flavors, the wood aging subtly in the background. Drink from 2027."

Wine Spectator - 95 Points
"This crackles with tarragon, fleur de sel, oyster shell and lemon pith notes that ripple throughout, while a steady core of yuzu and mirabelle plum moves through. Live-wire acidity keeps everything focused and mouthwatering. Lovely. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2033."

James Suckling - 94 Points
"Sliced lemon, crushed stone, ginger and oyster shell aromas follow through to a medium body with crisp acidity and a crunchy finish. A very typical top white from Pessac. Drink now."

Wine Advocate - 90-92 Points
"A blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Sémillon, the 2023 Carbonnieux Blanc exhibits elegant aromas of pear, white peach, spring flowers and herbs, followed by a medium-bodied, satiny and long texture enhanced by bright acids and a lively mid-palate. It concludes with a long, delicate, mouthwateringly mordant finish, making it a classic white wine from this estate."

Jeb Dunnuck - 90-92 Points
"The 2023 Château Carbonnieux Blanc is light gold-hued and offer terrific aromatics of ripe citrus, minty herbs, and a kiss of grapefruit. These carry to a medium-bodied white with a round, supple texture, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length."

Grape Blend

Composition: 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon
This classic Bordeaux white blend showcases the best of both varietals, combining Sauvignon Blanc's vibrant acidity and aromatic intensity with Sémillon's richness and texture.

Tasting Profile

The 2023 Chateau Carbonnieux white wine offers an exquisite blend of vibrancy and depth. Light gold-hued with terrific aromatics including grapefruit and honey, sliced lemon, crushed stone, ginger, oyster shell, tarragon, fleur de sel, lemon pith, yuzu, mirabelle plum, pear, white peach, spring flowers, herbs, ripe citrus, and minty herbs. The palate is equally expressive, featuring crisp and rounded textures, ripe with apple and spice flavors, live-wire acidity that keeps everything focused and mouthwatering, medium body with a satiny and long texture, round and supple with nicely integrated acidity. The finish is crunchy, long, delicate, and mouthwateringly mordant with outstanding length. Wood aging is subtle in the background, allowing the fruit and terroir to shine.

Grand Cru Classé Heritage

With a rich history dating back to the 13th century, Chateau Carbonnieux has established itself as a Grand Cru Classé in the prestigious Pessac-Leognan appellation. The estate is known for its meticulous vineyard practices and sustainable viticulture, producing wines that beautifully reflect the unique terroir of Bordeaux. Each bottle is a testament to centuries of tradition and innovation.

Aging Potential

Drink Window: Now through 2033 (Wine Spectator), from 2027 (Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection)
This vintage offers both immediate enjoyment and excellent aging potential, allowing collectors to cellar it for further development.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Pairing Chateau Carbonnieux with the right dishes can enhance your overall dining experience. Its refreshing acidity and vibrant fruit character make it an excellent choice for:

• Grilled fish and shellfish
• Oysters and seafood platters
• Salads featuring citrus or vinaigrettes
• Creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert
• Gourmet picnics
• Summer barbecues
• Light cheese platters

Perfect for Wine Enthusiasts

This vintage is ideal for those who appreciate complexity and refinement in their wine, making it a sought-after selection for wine enthusiasts and collectors wanting to taste the essence of Bordeaux. Enjoy it chilled to fully appreciate its bright flavors and elegant character. The versatility of this Grand Cru Classé is sure to impress your guests at any occasion.

Winemaker Description

The 2024 Roserock Pinot Noir captures the purity and tension of our Eola–Amity Hills estate. Aromas of black cherry, violet, and raspberry rise from the glass, layered with notes of dried herbs, coffee, and stony earth. On the palate, it’s vibrant and poised, with bright acidity carrying flavors of strawberry, plum, and subtle spice. The texture is fine and supple, unfolding toward a long, graceful finish that conveys the youth and promise of this wine.

In 2024, a cool spring led to a slower start, but warm, dry conditions through summer and fall set the stage for an outstanding vintage. The vines ripened beautifully, with minimal disease pressure and ideal acidity. Harvest began on September 23 under perfect conditions. Véronique is already calling 2024 a standout year, with vibrant, balanced wines to come.

Roserock is an extraordinary vineyard at the southern tip of the Eola-Amity Hills, in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Ancient volcanic soils, an ideal elevation range, and the unique cooling effect of the Van Duzer corridor produce classic cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Roserock is LIVE-certified sustainable.

Winemaker Description

This is a very concentrated Brunello that combines intense notes of blood orange with a hint of chinotto mixed with complex Mediterranean spices (Helichrysum Thyme and Broom Flowers). It is a wine with a strong nerve, a vibrant acid structure that sustains a concentrated mouthfeel, rich in silky tannins. The finish is extremely long and soft. 

Expert Reviews

94 Points James Suckling | Dusty notes with crushed gravel and dried tea leaves are a prelude to aromas of fresh button mushrooms and hints of fennel. Savory mushrooms and olives, followed by firm, fine-grained tannins. Structured and full-bodied.

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has aromatics of menthol and medicinal herbs, brushed leather, and black cherry. The palate is dark fruited without weight, marked with dried blackberry, black tea, dried herbs, and classically balanced structure. It is sourced from three different vineyard sites of various exposition on the hill of Montalcino. This will be ready to drink a touch earlier and be great to check in on over the next 15 years. Drink 2022-2036.

93 Points Wine Spectator | Aromas of iron, blood and cherry lead off in this smooth and vibrant red, with a well of dark fruit—black cherry and blackberry—settling in on the palate. Offers a dusting of dark chocolaty tannins on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2043. 1,500 cases imported.

91 Points Decanter | Bringing together grapes from diverse vineyards throughout Montalcino, this midweight, almost-approachable Brunello is focused and vibrant. It takes a bit of coaxing on the nose then divulges sage, orange rind and fennel. Brisk acidity and chalky tannins meet crisp red currant and cranberry, cleansing the palate nicely. A delightful jumping off point to Val di Suga’s single-vineyard offerings, which COO and winemaker Andrea Lonardi has been refining since 2012.

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

Winemaker Description

This vibrant Zinfandel opens with enticing aromas of dark plum, raspberry compote, and a touch of sandalwood. The palate reveals layered notes of baked strawberry, savory dried herbs, and a hint of cracked pepper. Ripe, structured tannins and bright acidity provide balance and lift, carrying the wine through a lingering finish.

Zinfandel is foundational to California’s viticultural heritage. This bright and bountiful grape has thrived in the Golden State since the 1880s. While it has become more scarce as Napa Valley continues to evolve and become more Cabernet-centric, Frank
Family Vineyards is honored to champion this beautiful grap and its iconic legacy.

This Napa Valley designate is primarily cultivated from our estate S&J Vineyard in Capell Valley, 206 acres located east of the Vaca Mountain range in the Napa Valley AVA. It is planted to 58 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, along with 9 acres of Petite Sirah, and 9 acres of Zinfandel. The soils are fertile, well-draining, and clay loam-based, reminiscent of the Rutherford Bench. Along with S&J, grapes from neighboring vineyards in Chiles Valley (Sunseri Vineyard), Calistoga. 

Winemaker Description 

Arneis produces a lightly styled white wine with beautiful straw yellow colour. Citrus edged orchard fruits, pear and apricot are attractive on the palate with slightly bitter floral note that can resemble almonds. L'azienda Brovia is a traditional Piemontese family wine growing estate in Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of Barolo country. The wine is appreciated for its refined elegance.

The sole white wine of the estate is produced in the Roero district from an 0.80 hectare plot in Vezza d’Alba. The soil is essentially sandy in composition and sits at 340 meters altitude on south-facing slopes. The vineyard was planted in 1980. Harvest (manual) normally occurs in mid-September.

The grapes are briefly macerated and the fermentation occurs at controlled temperatures (around 15 degrees Celsius) for two to three weeks. The wine rests in stainless steel until the early spring months of the following year and is usually released to the market, after several months of bottle aging, in late summer/early fall.

Approximately 4500 bottles are produced annually, 3,000 of which are shipped to the USA. 

Memo Pairing Notes

This Arneis is incredibly versatile. Its freshness and body make it a perfect match for:

• Raw and Cooked Seafood: Oysters, raw tuna, grilled octopus, and white fish.

• Vegetable Dishes: Vegetable-based pasta, light risottos, or asparagus.

• Cured Meats & Cheese: Light ham or salami, and fresh, milky cheeses like Burrata or soft goat cheese.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais comes from the oldest vines on the property, planted in 1995 with all Dijon clones. Bottled in late January of this year, the wine sports a vibrant ruby hue and shows off notes of wild raspberries, mixed berries, a hint of fresh violets, clove spice, forest herbs, and brambly earth. It’s chiseled in its structure, with coiled tannins and a good deal of youthful tension, and also offers mineral persistence, with wonderful salinity and dark undertones of earth. It demands another few years in cool cellars to soften and expand as it evolves and will drink well over the long haul. Drink 2026-2040. 590 cases were produced.

Winemaker Description 

Planted in 1995, the Dijon block is now in its prime, delivering the complexity and elegance one expects from carefully tended twenty-six-year-old vines. The 2021 “DJ,” as it is known in-house, shows characteristic black raspberry and rose hip notes. Consistent with previous vintages, it displays Asian five spice, briar and even hints of blood orange coupled with a refreshing acidity and persistent finish. It is a superior vintage, one of the best of the decade. While the 2021 Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir is delicious right now, it will reward patience after a few years in a cool cellar.  Winemaker Description.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Mike DeSimone of the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | Dark ruby in color, this wine has a nose of black cherry, cedar chest and violet candy. A pleasant floral note is a constant companion to blackberry, anisette, clove and dark-chocolate flavors that are enclosed in a shell of muscular tannins. A soft note of pomegranate permeates the grippy finish. Drink through 2035. 

Winemaker Description 

A 1er Cru RBD from Yolanda and Carolina García Viadero whose mission is to place the Tinto Fino varietal among the world’s best.  Bursts of blackberry and cassis, relaxed opulence and richness.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

JamesSuckling.com by Claire Nesbitt writes 92 Points | Mocha, chocolate truffles, cassis, oranges and lavender on the nose of this fragrant red. It’s full-bodied, warming and aromatic, filled with ripe blue and orange fruit and accompanied by ripe tannins.

Winemaker Description

Hand harvested grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation.

Each variety is vinified separately, and the wine is transferred to French oak barriques (2-3 years old) with a medium toast. The wine ages for 12 months then rests for about 45 days in cement tanks before being bottled without filtration. Released after 3 months in bottle. 

Winemaker Description

Garnet-red with violet hues. It is full-bodied with nicely integrated tannins and a persistent elegant finish.

Expert Reviews

• Vinous 93 Points | The 2023 Malbec comes from Drummond, Luján de Cuyo and was aged 12 months in French oak, one-third new. It offers clear black fruit — ripe blackberry and plum — over delicate oak and a hint of violet. Dry and slightly compact due to the warm vintage, it carries good black-fruit flavor on the palate. Well executed for the year.
• Oscar Garcia, 67Wine | A full-bodied and expressive Malbec with substance and chewy tannins. Perfect pairing for beef dishes, poultry, or pork.

Winemaker Notes

The aromas of sweet French oak and espresso grow more complex with every swirl, unveiling black plum, ripe raspberry, and violet. Full-bodied, dense, and chewy on the palate with flavors of black raspberry, plums, roasted herbs, and mint — a classic estate-grown Malbec from one of Luján de Cuyo’s most respected producers.

• Grape Source: 100% Malbec
• Appellation: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
• Vineyard: Drummond Estate
• Location: Argentina
• Aging: 12 months in French oak (1/3 new)

Crowded House · Marlborough · New Zealand · 2025

Twenty years ago, the Waihopai Valley was a blank canvas — a peaceful, remote haven in the ranges of Marlborough. Today it is home to Crowded House, a wine built on the conviction that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, done right, needs nothing more than the land, the climate, and the courage to let both speak. Winemaker Matt Ward ferments entirely in stainless steel at cool temperatures, preserving every last note of varietal freshness and vibrancy, and sources fruit from a select group of growers — all certified under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand — who have been part of the Crowded House story from the very beginning.

The nose opens with zesty lime, sweet pea, and freshly cut passionfruit, with an intentionally restrained mineral core layered beneath ripe citrus and crushed thyme. On the palate it is vibrant and expressive — Liberty apple, white nectarine, and passionfruit coulis — flowing with minerality to a rounded, classically crisp Marlborough finish.

• Producer: Crowded House
• Winemaker: Matt Ward
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Marlborough, New Zealand
• Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
• Farming: Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) certified
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lime, sweet pea, passionfruit, Liberty apple, white nectarine, crushed thyme, mineral finish
• Pairings: Grilled fish, shellfish, goat cheese, Thai cuisine, light salads, aperitif

Classically Marlborough — sustainably grown, beautifully made, and impossible to put down.

Hahn MERLOT Central Coast 2024 750ml

Winemaker Description

A rich, dark garnet with vibrant purple shimmer, the 2024 Hahn Merlot opens with inviting aromas of ripe plum, cocoa, blueberry, and violet, with hints of juicy black cherry. On the palate, a luscious mouthfeel delivers dark fruit, sweet spice, and restrained tannins, leading into a lingering finish with toasty oak undertones.

From Hahn Family Wines — based in the Santa Lucia Highlands and known for crafting everyday luxury wines — this Central Coast Merlot balances richness with smooth, approachable structure.

Pair with seared duck breast, beef short ribs, or grilled pork chops.

Wine Details

Producer: Hahn Family Wines
Varietal: Merlot
Region: Central Coast / Monterey, California
Vintage: 2024
Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description

This Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep and intense ruby red. On the nose are notes of plum, currants and cherries with toasted notes from oak ageing. On the palate this wine is elegant and soft with a fresh and persistant finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling 99 Points writes | This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023. (2018).

Decanter Georgina Hindle 96 Points writes |   A less traditional style of wine in Napa Valley, this is lifted and charming with poise, powdery tannins and a chalky finish. Richly perfumed and wonderfully evocative on the nose, it’s seductive and inviting with black cherries, raspberries and blueberries alongside savoury notes of dried herbs. The flavours open and evolve on the palate bringing cocoa, tobacco and pencil lead into play underpinned by supple tannins. It’s powerful but on the leaner side, refined and elegant with a good sense of diretion and drive - everything feels well placed and well defined. Tasted twice and both times were highly enjoyable. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 2% Carmenére and 1% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 20 months in oak, 100% French, 62% new. Biodynamically grown and certified organic. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg and estate director Rodrigo Soto. 

Robert Parker Joe Czerwinski 94+ Points writes | The dense, purple-hued 2018 Proprietary Red Wine seemed just a bit closed at this tasting, with pronounced cedary notes overshadowing the black cherry fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, with a lush mouthfeel, silky-textured tannins and cocoa powder-like nuances on the lingering finish. (2018).

Vinous Antonio Galloni 93 Points writes |  The 2018 Red Wine is a powerful, driving Napa Valley wine. Scorched earth, iron, chocolate, and leather give the red cherry/plum fruit distinctly savory accents. This is an especially tight wine in a vintage that yielded generally more supple, open-knit reds. Quintessa is one of the first Napa Valley estates I visited, many years ago. Since then, the property has undergone several stylistic phases. It will be interesting to see where things go over the next handful of years here. Drinking 2023 - 2038

Jancis Robinson 18.5 Points writes | Youthful purplish crimson. Vibrant nose with a suggestion of a creamy texture. Dense and savoury and beautifully balanced. Lovely and pure with a great future and tannins almost hidden by the fruit. Attractive savoury note. You could drink this now but it would be a pity. (2018).

Jancis Robinson Richard Hemming MW 17.5 Points writes Luxuriously rich and velvety, opulent but with enough herbal contrast to keep freshness on the nose. Lots of oak and dark chocolate on the palate. Such soft tannins! Really ready to drink. The oak is predominant on the finish. For Napa, this is reasonably restrained, and I'm sure it will develop well. (2018).

92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 2% Carménѐre

Winemaker Notes

The 2018 Quintessa is a wine of perfect harmony, with deep flavors and elegant layers that are apparent even from a young age. Intense aromas of cassis, black cherry, and raspberry intermingle with savory notes of sage and thyme; the 2018 Quintessa continues to unfold as notes of dark chocolate, graphite and fresh tobacco mingle with the fresh fruit. Precise and dense, the wine shows supple tannin that play with flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, and crushed rocks. The 2018 Quintessa has a perfect balance of fresh acidity followed by bright fruit and minerality at the finish that portends unparalleled aging potential.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2018 

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select gives up intense cassis, stewed plums and cedar chest notes with hints of licorice and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the palate has a taut, grainy texture supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and mineral tinged.

James Suckling 92 Points | Ripe blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, spearmint, cocoa and walnut on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Supple, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014

Stephan Reinhardt of the Wine Advocate writes 94+ Points | The 2014 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is highly complex on the clear, intense and smoky, lemony nose. Clear, fresh, straight and very mineral on the nose, this is a pure but complex, intense, stony Riesling that is pretty austere at the moment. Provided with racy acidity, but concentrated and mineral on the palate, this is exceptional dry Riesling with great tension. To be served in 10, 20 and even in 30 years.  Drinking 2025 to 2040. 

Ian D’Agata of Vinous writes 94+ Points | Vivid straw-green. Delicate nuances of jasmine and lemon verbena complicate aromas of green apple, lime and minerals. Pure and penetrating on the palate, boasting superb definition to the flavors of gin, mint, minerals, violet and lemon zest. The finish is remarkably crystalline and long. This Frédéric Emile is currently dominated by its Osterberg component (the cuvée is a blend of Osterberg and Geisberg grand cru grapes), which brings chiseled acidity, as opposed to the Geisberg’s ripe fruit personality and licorice quality. Despite the difficult year, this is likely to become a memorable Frédéric Emile. So much so, in fact, that it’s currently impossible to choose between it and the more famous Clos Sainte Hune.  Drinking 2022 to 2045.

James Suckling writes 96 Points | So much mineral and sliced apple character with hints of orange and apple peel. Turns to steely character. Full-bodied, racy and bright. So lively. Great finish. Drink or hold on release. 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92+ Points | Coming close to a decade after the vintage, the 2014 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is still vivid and racy, with a taut, focused, almost austere style in its ripe citrus, crushed stone, hazelnut, and smoky mineral-driven aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied and nicely concentrated, with high yet integrated acidity, this needs another 4-5 years of bottle age, as it's currently austere, firm, and inward. It will be an incredibly long-lived Riesling, but how much pleasure it will ultimately deliver might be questionable.  Drinking after 2027. 

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 95 Points | A bone-dry, racy white, with a lovely entry point of slate, petrol and brine aromas on the nose, plus a minerally profile that underscores notes of crunchy nectarine, kiwifruit, cherry blossoms, pink grapefruit pith and fresh thyme. Firm and linear, this graceful version exhibits seamless knit and definition. Drink now through 2039.  - Wine Spectator 95

Jancis Robinson writes 17.5+ Points | To be released around 2022 or 2023. Razor-sharp nose and very tight. Lots to chew on. They could release this and no one would object but I can see why they want it to unfurl a bit.  Drinking 2022 to 2035.  - Jancis Robinson 17.5+

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A very fresh, floral-laced style, offering a bright beam of cassis and plum gelée laced with flashes of violet, hibiscus and rose petal. Nicely grounded through the finish, with alder and warm earth hints filling in. Approachable, but this has more to show in time. Best from 2023 through 2036. (JM)

Wine Advocate 94 Points | Delicate herbal shadings accent the cassis notes on the nose of Corison's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. It's classic Corison, balanced and concentrated without being showy or weighty, silky in feel, with a long, lingering finish and two decades of ageability. (JC)Decanter 94 points Alluring aromas of dark cassis, graphite, cedar and wild herbs. It has a striking depth with layered flavours and texture, and while restrained now it is incredibly well-built and in need of time in the cellar to fully shine. Reveals subtle hints of fresh black and blue berries, currants and dried herbs tinged with red florals. Finishes with polish, energy and poise. (JC)

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Lots of dark, blackcurrants, cassis, darker chocolate, and hints of violets emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced St. Helena Napa Cabernet Sauvignon offering nicely integrated acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. This quintessential Cathy Corison Cabernet shines on all accounts. It's going to evolve for two decades. (JD)

James Suckling 94 Points | A perfumed nose of blackberries, dark cherries, cedar, cocoa and nutmeg. Violets too. Medium body with fine tannins and bright acidity. Fresh and refined with a bright core of wild fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. (JS)

Vinous 93 Points | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is full of charm. It offers all of the natural intensity of the year, with bright acids that keep the flavors bright. Sweet red cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco and spice all build effortlessly. This open-knit yet classically built Cabernet is likely to offer a wide window of drinkability over the next 15-20 years. As always, Cathy Corison's Napa Valley Cabernet is a blend of three sites in St. Helena. (AG)

Wine & Spirits Magazine 96 Points | The 2019 vintage might be something of an outlier for Cathy Corison, who picked two weeks later than usual, taking advantage of the cool season from summer into fall. This wine is, in fact, an idealized version of her benchland cabernet sauvignon, holding on to the elegance she regularly achieves, while adding a luscious textural beauty that more often comes from bottle age. James Conley of NYC’s Keen’s Chophouse found the aroma suggested a more delicate wine than the density and extract this one carries in its “cabernet grape tannins and intriguing, lifted fruit. If someone said, ‘I love Napa, but show me what I’m missing.’ I’d say, ‘Well, try this.’” Warm and explosive in its energy, this wine carries an imprint of the benchland soils in the play of darkness and light, in the detailed tannins that make you crave another taste. (JG)

Winemaker Description

Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely impeccable. Best of all, it won't require years in the cellar to be enjoyable. In fact, it is quite expressive today. Juicy dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and cinnamon are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass. 

Expert Review 

Vinous 96+ Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is silky and elegant, with lovely aromatic presence and impeccable balance. Sweet tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and mint all give this mid-weight Cabernet lovely complexity and nuance. The 2018 has shut down since I tasted it last year, but that is not surprising given the style here. Today, bright acids give the 2018 energy, tension and a good deal of precision. Those qualities should help the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon age well over the coming decades.  Drinking 2028 - 2058.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

Wine Spectator 95 points | This has a lovely core of creamy anise-infused plum, blackberry and boysenberry flavors that showcase themselves a bit more vividly than many Margaux peers in this vintage do, with substantial but velvety grip and lots of extra violet, graphite and black tea notes adding to the long flow of a finish. Really beautiful feel. Best from 2023 through 2038.Wine Enthusiast 97 points Dark tannins work with the sophisticated structure of this wine. The very fine tannins are an important element of the wine, giving shape to the ripe black fruits and acidity. This wine, rich and structured, is set for a long development. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection.

Wine Advocate 97 points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla drifts effortlessly from the glass with fragrant rose hip tea, candied violets and chocolate box scents over a core of fresh blackcurrants and black cherry compote plus wafts of tobacco and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a great mid-palate of softly textured black and blue fruits with loads of floral nuances and a refreshing lift on the finish. The blend this year is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, harvested between September 20th and October 15th at an average yield of 45 hectoliters per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. The alcohol is 13.5%.Decanter 95 points There's an array of flavours and complex aromatics on offer here. It's powerful and brooding, with a lyrical acidity that helps to lift up the relatively foursquare tannins on the attack. After a few minutes in the glass it begins to ripple with menthol, liquorice root, grilled cedar and sweet spices. It needs time to settle, of course, but is extremely classic, and will go the distance and then some. Matured in 60% new oak.

Jeb Dunnuck 98 points | I continue to love the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla, a thrillingly complete, flawlessly balanced, and borderline perfect Margaux that should be snatched up by readers. Notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and earth all give way to a full-bodied effort that has building tannins, no hard edges, and a level of purity and elegance that’s just about off the charts. Given its purity and balance, it’s accessible today, but it will be best with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades.

James Suckling 98 points | The aromas of blackcurrants, sweet tobacco and sandalwood are tantalizing. Then it turns to subtle, dried fruit. Full-bodied with dense and powerful tannins, yet ending with finesse and vertical nature. Very deep. Power with finesse. Try after 2025. 

Winemaker Description

#5 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
#99 Jeb Dunnuck Top 100 of 2025
#8 Vinous Top 100 of 2025

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

100 Points Vinous | The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot is a total stunner. What a wine! The 2022 was magnificent en primeur, and it is all that from bottle. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Crushed rose petal, mint, blood orange, new leather and cedar meld into a core of pliant red-toned fruit. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's precision and finesse. I have never tasted a Beau-Séjour Bécot like this.

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is flat-out sensational, as well as the finest wine I’ve tasted from this château. Powerful aromatics of red, blue, and black fruits as well as crushed stone and violets define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, has integrated acidity, and ultra-fine tannins. Based on 76% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, this heavenly Saint-Emilion will benefit from just 3-5 years of bottle age and have 30 years or more of overall longevity. Back up the truck.

The Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot has turned out brilliantly in bottle. Wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of sweet wild berries mingled with rose petals, orange zest, violets, gentian and espresso roast, it's full-bodied, supple and suave, with a deep core of cool, layered fruit, beautifully vibrant flavors and polished structuring tannins, concluding with a saline finish. As I wrote when I tasted it from barrel, this is a Saint-Émilion of breathtaking perfume and harmony that will be worth a special effort to seek out.

The Wine Spectator 96 Points | This is very fresh, expressive and focused, with violet, iris and rosehip notes darting to the fore, while flavors of sleek raspberry and red currant preserves race along behind. Almost flattering, but there’s a subtle chalky tension piercing the finish, which sails through. A dreamy wine. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Decanter 96 Points |  Floral notes on the nose. Tangy and sharp, lively and bright straight away, sweet and sour, so energetic and lively with a mineral grip from the fine, firm, grippy tannins. Lovely precision and almost delicate presentation of fruit. You really feel the mineral, salty, tangy aspect of the fruit, nothing feels overworked, all in balance, really quite thrilling and electric. Great purity and focus. Scintillating yet still with a lovely volume and roundness accented by tobacco, clove, liquorice and cinnamon touches. Really well worked and fresh - this feels very modern with such control to the fruit, tannins, acidity giving overall depth and complexity. Elegant but confident, taking the best density from clay density and freshness from limestone. A very singular charm with this wine.

Memo Summary Notes 

The Château Beau-Séjour Bécot 2022 is being hailed by many critics as the "best wine ever produced" by this historic Saint-Émilion estate. This vintage marks a significant milestone, recently ranking as #5 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2025.

Situated on the iconic limestone plateau of Saint-Martin de Mazerat, the estate has shifted its style under owner Juliette Bécot toward greater precision, floral aromatics, and mineral tension, moving away from the more opulent, oak-heavy profiles of the past.

Expert Reviews | Vintage 2020 

96 Points James Suckling | This Spatlese beams you up to Cloud 9, from where you have a wonderful view over the beautiful Mosel Valley. In spite of the considerable concentration, this is super-delicate and precise on the barely medium-bodied palate. Enormously long finish, where you barely feel the natural grape sweetness. Drink or hold. 

95 Points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese is pure, clear and flinty on the concentrated nose that is reminiscent of a fresh fruit salad served on a slate plate on an early summer morning. Light, lush and highly finessed but seriously structured on the palate, this is a savory, very clear and elegant Sonnenuhr Spätlese with great precision and finesse and highly stimulating salinity and mouth-watering grip on the finish. Rating: 95+ 

Winemaker Description 

Always one of the first rosés to hit the market, this traditional S. Rhone blend comes from 25-50 year old vines grown along the Gassac Riber. It boasts a pleasant, intense nose with hints of strawberries. Full and round on the palate with red fruit flavors.

Few winemakers have come to define their region like Mas de Daumas Gassac has with the Languedoc. What sets Mas de Daumas Gassac apart is their unflinching commitment to pushing the boundaries — of the appellation’s rules, of conventional farming techniques, of “expected” grape varieties.

Aimé and Véronique Guibert purchased the land in the early 1970s; they had planned to start a farm, but weren’t sure what type of crops they wanted to grow. It took convincing from a Bordeaux-based soil scientist, who saw great grape-growing potential in the limestone-rich land, as densely mineral-laden as Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.

Making wine in the Languedoc is nothing new — the Greeks and Romans were doing it millennia ago. In planting their estate to vines, the Guiberts chose to buck local tradition and plant a wide (very wide) assortment of international grapes; there’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, sure, but also Petite Arvine, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo and more. Prior to owning the estate, the Guiberts traveled the world as part of a family leather business, and became enamored with grapes from far-off and exotic locales. 

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rosé Organic — Loire Valley 2025

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy are among the most respected names in Sancerre, farming their vines sustainably in the appellation’s most prized terroir. The Terre de Maimbray Rosé is sourced from 30- to 60-year-old Pinot Noir vines grown in Terres Blanches — the Kimmeridgian marl and pure chalk soils that define Sancerre’s mineral identity. Grapes are hand-harvested and direct-pressed (rosé de presse), then fermented in stainless steel and aged on fine lees over winter to add subtle textural roundness before bottling. The result is a rosé of exceptional clarity and energy.

The nose is vibrant and mineral-accented: fresh strawberry, tangerine, and quince with subtle herb and floral nuances. On the palate it is concentrated yet lithe, offering sappy red berry and citrus fruit flavors that deepen steadily on the back half, with the mineral note returning strong on a long, seamless finish. Serve well-chilled alongside fresh summer tomato salads, goat cheese tarts, green vegetables, or grilled salmon — or simply on its own as the finest rosé aperitif you can pour.

🇫🇷 “Vibrant, mineral-accented strawberry, tangerine, and quince scents, along with subtle herb and floral nuances. The mineral note comes back strong on the long, seamless finish, which shows excellent clarity.”

• Producer: Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy
• Appellation: Sancerre AOP, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Terroir: Terres Blanches — Kimmeridgian marl and pure chalk, vines 30–60 years old
• Vinification: Direct press, stainless steel fermentation, lees aging over winter
• Farming: Sustainable / Organic
• Size: 750ml
• Best Served: Well-chilled, 46–50°F
• Pairs With: Tomato salads, goat cheese tarts, green vegetables, grilled salmon

A benchmark Sancerre rosé — mineral, precise, and built for the table.

One of the Wines of the 2020 Vintage — Saint-Émilion at Its Most Magnificent

Château Valandraud is the legendary “garagiste” estate of Jean-Luc Thunevin, one of Saint-Émilion’s most celebrated and iconoclastic producers. Elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé status, Valandraud is produced from the cooler, eastern side of Saint-Émilion and is renowned for its extraordinary concentration, perfume, and longevity. The 2020 — a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 24 months in 100% new oak — has been called one of the wines of the vintage, earning back-to-back 99-point scores from Jeb Dunnuck and James Suckling and 98 points from Vinous.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

• Jeb Dunnuck — 99 pts: "One of the wines of the vintage. Incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character. Full-bodied richness, ripe seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won’t quit. Give bottles 5–7 years in the cellar. Drink 2028–2053."
• James Suckling — 99 pts: "Very opulent and expressive aromas of black fruit and pine needles. So floral. Full-bodied with plush, velvety tannins and lots of fruit and texture. It goes on for minutes. Rich at the finish, but remains fresh and vivid. Superb. One of the great Valandrauds. Drink after 2027."
• Vinous — 98 pts: "A stunner. Rich, deep and explosive with dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Bright and wonderfully focused with sweet floral and blood orange accents on the explosive finish. Magnificent. Drink 2028–2060."
• Decanter — 96 pts (Jane Anson): "Broad-shouldered with ample depth — brambled fruits, liquorice, cigar box spice and a gorgeously saline finish. Chalky, grippy tannins with white flowers on the aromatics. 100% new oak for 24 months. Drink 2029–2046."
• Decanter — 93 pts (Georgina Hindle): "Juicy and alive with blackcurrant, black cherry and herbal-tinged blueberries. Layers of acidity, mint, freshness and toast. Full and complex with salty minerality and unmistakable signature. Drink 2027–2046."
• Wine Spectator — 93 pts: "Black currant and fig preserves, warmed black tea, melted black licorice and a hint of alder smoke, framed by a loam- and espresso crema-accented finish. Best from 2027 through 2040."
• Wine Advocate — 92 pts: "Aromas of jammy black fruits mingled with toasted coconut, spices and new oak. Full-bodied, rich and chewy with generously extracted tannins. Drink 2025–2043."
• Jancis Robinson — 17++ pts: "Deep crimson. Dark and oaky — lots of 70% dark chocolate. Big, dense tannins with enough fresh fruit to fill it out for the long term. Drink 2030–2045."

Winemaker Notes

Freshness and opulence, fruit and structure. A perfect balance.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Blend: 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Appellation: Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé AOC, Bordeaux, France
• Producer: Château Valandraud / Jean-Luc Thunevin
• Vintage: 2020
• Aging: 24 months, 100% new oak
• Yield: 49 hl/ha
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A wine of this stature deserves the finest table — exceptional with roasted lamb, beef tenderloin en croute, duck confit, aged Comté, and black truffle dishes. Also magnificent on its own as a meditation wine.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Handsomely structured and full-bodied yet refined in approach, offering blackberry and cherry flavors laced with mocha espresso and cinnamon notes that build richness toward polished tannins.

The Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | A generous and glittering Zinfandel that is both savory and mouthwatering. This wine showcases raspberry, ripe plums, tobacco and dry, forest notes. Robust and lengthy.

James Suckling 91 Points |  Aromas of blueberry tart, poached rhubarb, cigar box and sweet spices. The palate is full-bodied with firm yet integrated tannins, bright acidity and notes of black cherries, baking spices and burnt oranges. Block 28 sits at 60 meters above sea level and is planted to St. George rootstock. The wine is aged for 15 months in 65% new oak. A powerful and tightly bound wine that will age gracefully. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description 

Hendry Block 28 is located on bench lands west of the town of Napa. This 4.17-acre block is 160 feet above sea level and has thin, stony soils. Morning fog and strong afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay moderate the maritime climate. The vines were planted in 1998 using St. George roots and grafted with budwood selected from an old-vine Zinfandel vineyard on Mt. Veeder called the Brandlin Vineyard. The vines are spaced 6.9' x 5', cordon-trained and spur-pruned. A vertical trellis system supports the cordon and the canopy.

Mt. Veeder’s Brandlin Ranch was planted in 1926 with a Zinfandel which produces complex, intense fruit.  The character of this mountain fruit was very interesting to George. In the early days of winemaking at Hendry, he made an arrangement with the vineyard’s owner to tend the vines in exchange for the fruit. When the vineyard was sold, George was able to obtain budwood from the gnarled old vines, which he then grafted onto rootstock in Block 28, where we’ve grown it ever since. The character of the fruit remains distinct from our other Zinfandel and Primitivo cultivars. 

In 2021, bud break in Block 28 occurred April 7th. Bloom was May 24th. Harvest was on September 25th, with a yield of 2.93 tons per acre. Bloom-to-harvest period was 124 days. 

The alcoholic fermentation was completed in approximately one week in closed fermentation tanks. The wine was then pressed and put into barrels for malolactic fermentation. Aging was fifteen months in French oak barrels, approximately 65% - 75% of which are new each year. 

Deep ruby color. Big, blackberry jam aromatics jump out of the glass. Fruity on the front-palate, medium-heavy and balanced, drawing out to a firm finish of black tea tannins. This is a Zin for Zin-lovers! The bolder of our two Zinfandel offerings. Plenty of structure for burgers, braised lamb shanks, salumi, cheeses, and slow-roasted brisket. 

Cases: 1274
   

Winemaker Description 

A superb and age-worthy Barolo by Giacomo Conterno, from the Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. 100% Nebbiolo. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak casks. Red fruits, roses, tar, licorice and spices notes. Powerful and complex. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

Expert Reviews 97 Points Wine Advocate | Of the three Barolo samples I tasted from barrel (including Arione and Cerretta, which are also from Serralunga d'Alba), the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia was the furthest behind and the hardest to pin down at this stage in its infancy. I have opened my range of scores accordingly to compensate for the magical unknowns that are likely to occur as the wine moves toward greater harmony and integration before its commercial release. The wine is linear and pointedly focused, lacking the width and volume it will gain when given more time to flesh out and relax. The aromas are also quite primary and simple at this point, with dark cherry and even a hint of ripe strawberry ceding gradually to grilled herb, blue flower and baked brick. This vintage of Barolo Francia will require patience. (2018).

95 Points Wine Spectator | Delivers depth and power, with menthol and wild herbs shading cherry and plum flavors. The balance tips toward the tannins in the end, yet this doesn't feel overly astringent, just more structured than many '18s. Picks up a mineral element as this lingers on the finish. Be patient. (2018).

95+ Points Vinous | The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of balsamic overtones build into the deep, imposing finish. Roberto Conterno decided to forego his Barolo Monfortino in 2018, opting instead to blend all the casks into his Francia bottling. When that happens, Francia often surprises down the road. That could very well turn out to be the case here. (2018).

Monica Larner writes:  The Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia has opened beautifully since I last tasted this wine at the winery two years ago. It was closed back then (no surprise since I tasted it as an unfinished sample), but with the distance of time, the wine has blossomed to show blackcurrant, cassis, aniseed, blue flower and pencil shaving. The Francia is known for its magical combination of power and nuance, both delivered with seamless intensity. This vintage offers a savory component with hints of toasted spice or spent ember. The tannins are fine and polished.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Tellier | Les Massales | Extra-Brut | Moussy, Pierry & Chavot-Courcourt, Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, Champagne | 2022

The Tellier family has been growing vines in the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay since 1938, but it was not until 2016 that brothers Clément and Thibault Tellier took 3 hectares of family vines and began vinifying their own micro-cuvées — launching one of the most exciting young grower-producer projects in Champagne. Working with fruit from the villages of Moussy, Pierry, and Chavot-Courcourt in the southern Marne, the Tellier brothers bring a meticulous, terroir-focused approach to a region that is increasingly recognized as a source of exceptional Champagne.

Les Massales is a single-vineyard cuvée from the clay-limestone Massales lieu-dit — a blend of the primary Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier) grown across the three villages. The name references the traditional practice of massale selection — propagating vines from the best individual plants in the vineyard rather than from clonal nursery stock — a method that preserves genetic diversity and produces wines of greater complexity and terroir expression.

The 2022 shines with yellow plum, acacia honey, and toasted almond, framed by zesty acidity and a clean, mineral-driven finish. The energy, depth, and precision on display here are exactly what make grower Champagne so exciting — a compelling introduction to the Tellier lineup at an exceptional price.

Excellent as an aperitif. Pair with oysters, shellfish, sushi, grilled fish, soft cheeses, and light poultry dishes.

• Producer: Tellier
• Cuvée: Les Massales
• Style: Extra-Brut
• Appellation: Moussy, Pierry & Chavot-Courcourt, Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, Champagne, France
• Blend: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
• Vintage: 2022
• Vineyard: Massales lieu-dit; clay-limestone soils
• Bottle Size: 750ml