2010 - Present Wine

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La Valentina's Bellovedere is the winery's highest expression of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. It is a single-vineyard wine from the subzone of Terre dei Vestini, in the rolling hills near the Abruzzo coast and the city of Pescara. The Bellovedere is intended to demonstrate the great possibilities of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, and as such the wine is produced only in the years with great weather conditions and fully mature grapes. The Bellovedere vineyard takes its name from a park in the center of Spoltore with a view of the vineyards and the ridgeline of the Gran Sasso peaks behind, as shown on the label.

• 94 James
  Suckling
• 92 Wine
  Spectator

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The Musar Jeune (formally known as Cuvée Rouge) is the second wine of Château Musar. This red has some spicy Syrah added to the regular mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault. Great dark cherry fruit on the palate with palpable yet approachable tannins.

Winemaker Description 

Federspiel is a designation of ripeness for dry wines, a term used exclusively by members of the Vinea Wachau.

Federspiel wines must be unchaptalized and fall between 11.5 and 12.5% ABV. The grapes are hand-harvested, typically in October, and are sent directly to press where they spontaneously ferment in stainless-steel tanks. Franz Prager, co-founder of the Vinea Wachau, had already earned a reputation for his wines when Toni Bodenstein married into the family.

Bodenstein’s passion for biodiversity and old terraces, coupled with brilliant winemaking, places Prager in the highest echelon of Austrian producers. Steinriegl is planted to Riesling and is Prager’s only vineyard west of Weißenkirchen.

The exceptionally steep, southwest-facing site has a cool mesoclimate due to its proximity to the forest, and its soil is a unique “kalksilikatmarmor,” a limestone silicate marble rarely found elsewhere in the Wachau. Bodenstein produces both an earlier-picked Federspiel and a later-picked Smaragd.

Austrian Riesling is often defined by elevated levels of dry extract thanks to a lengthy ripening period and freshness due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night.

Steinriegl’s uniquely cool microclimate results in wines of high aroma and focused acidity and its limestone soil provide compact structure and a flavor that is distinctive among Wachau Rieslings.Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table.

Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame some saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette might.

Winemaker Description 

After working at Cia de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez Juan Antonio Ponce returned home. The project started in 2005, he was 23, just 11 barrels, and a loan. The family’s wine growing tradition dates back to Juan Antonio’s great-grandfather, although his father never made wine–he used to sell the grapes to the local cooperative. “Ponce says. “The area is full of prejudices, people lack self-confidence.

These days Manchuela is probably the most interesting appellation in central Spain, led by Ponce. This is sharp and austere, mineral and electric. A wine to keep.

Winemaker's Notes: Masseto 2017 manages to encapsulate all the ripeness and concentration of a particularly sunny and dry vintage. The color is almost black, the nose reveals a rich and ripe expression of concentrated black fruit, with hints of spices and liquorice. On the palate the wine manages to combine great intensity and ripeness of fruit with a remarkable sense of balance and freshness. The tannins are densely knit, the texture velvety, the finish shows lingering fruitiness and a vibrant acidity giving a final touch of freshness. Although it comes from one of the warmest vintages, 2017 can be considered a very typical Masseto in its unmistakeable combination of richness and elegance.

James Suckling - 98 Points: The clarity of the ripe blackcurrants, black cherries and flowers in the nose is entrancing. Lavender, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that run long and straight through the wine, providing brightness and focus. Goes on for minutes. Strength with finesse Drink after 2024, but already wonderful to taste.

Decanter Magazine - 97 Points: This is luscious, think Le Pin rather than Petrus if you are comparing to a Pomerol. The layers of spice are clear and distinct, from pepper to saffron to cloves, extremely rich but with an upward swing of acidity that keeps it gripped on to its base, and delivers the power and seduction of Masseto. An excellent vintage taking the extreme drought of the summer in its stride, proof of the exceptional location of this property. There are plenty of finely tuned tannins, but you have to wait until you are halfway through the palate before they start to build in intensity, so well brushed and supple they are at first. One to savour, for sure. 100% new oak. 24 months in barrel then another 12 months in bottle before being released from the estate.

The Wine Advocate - 97 Points: The Masseto 2017 Masseto puts on another exhilarating, knock-out performance for the third year in a row. The Masseto vineyard is a triangular-shaped plot tucked in at the back of the same property that houses the Ornellaia vineyards and winery. This special site is located at the base of the mountains that rise gently from the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the picturesque silhouette of the Castiglioncello castle at the top. The vines are planted at an altitude of 80 to 100 meters above sea level in blue clay soils that are unique to Bolgheri. That ideal position opens the vineyards to soft breezes, proximity to the sea, long daylight hours and cool diurnal shifts from the protective wall of low mountains at the back. It's a little garden of Merlot Eden. The center of the vineyard now is home to the new Masseto winery and an adjacent tasting room built into a pre-existing farmhouse. This wine was made in the old winery (the existing Ornellaia winery). Fermentation kicks off in a combination of steel and oak tanks before the wine is racked over to barrique, where it rests for two years. The wine then goes into bottle for 12 months before its release. Like most vintages of Masseto tasted this early in the game, the oak is omnipresent, and it grounds the wine in terms of texture and structure. It is powerful, but that's always the case with Masseto (this vintage records a 15.5% alcohol content). I tasted this wine next to the decidedly more playful Massetino, and the Masseto moves over the palate with substantial fruit weight and concentration gained over the course of this hot and dry growing season (which produced smaller, richer and more compact berries). Perhaps, what this vintage lacks is that profound varietal character that we saw in recent vintages like 2016 and 2015. If concerned that the hot vintage would draw out too many ripe fruit tones, the oak serves to soften some of the more volatile components of the fruit. Those distinctive notes of macchia mediterranea (wild bush) that I always associate with Masseto are less present in this vintage. You feel the oak tannins on the finish with toast and vanilla that will certainly shed as the wine ages. In fact, I went back to taste the wine 12 hours later, and they had already softened considerably. 

Jeb Dunnuck - 96 Points: The 2017 Masseto is another stunning wine from this benchmark estate, and along with Petrus, they fashion one of the greatest expressions of Merlot out there. The 2017 reveals a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a captivating bouquet of ripe black cherries, currants, dried herbs, leather, spicy oak, and tobacco, with even a touch of forest floor coming through with time in the glass. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and structured on the palate, it has loads of minerality, a seamless texture, ripe (yet certainly present) tannins, and a great finish. While it shows the sunny style of the vintage aromatically, it's tight and backward on the palate and in need of 4-5 years of bottle age. It's going to keep for 30-40 years.

Wine Spectator - 95 Points: There's a meaty character to this intense, polished red, adding a seriousness to the dark plum, blackberry, iron, vanilla and chocolate flavors. A beam of bright acidity keeps this focused and drives the fruit- and spice-filled finish. Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2042. 

Hailing from two 80+ year-old parcels and 0.50 hA of the family's oldest vines planted in 1900 - all located in the warmest sector of the village - the Cuvée des Fous has a sunny, luminous disposition with a deep, dark, and filigreed profile.

The Prisoner Pinot Noir | Sonoma Coast | 2022 | 750ml | California, USA

Redefining taste once again, this Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a masterful blend from two of California's most celebrated AVAs — Russian River Valley and Petaluma Gap. Russian River's diverse terroir contributes a wide range of styles, while the cool, foggy climate of the Petaluma Gap lends a distinctive coastal minerality.

• Winery: The Prisoner Wine Company
• Origin: Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2022
• AVAs: Russian River Valley & Petaluma Gap

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Ripe cranberry and dried black cherry with early floral notes and hints of mocha, chai, and leather
• Palate: Luxurious mouthfeel with juicy black cherry and spice at midpalate
• Finish: Lengthy and complex with notes of cardamom and clove

Winery Notes

TOP DOGS Wines - Supporting Animal Rescue

Jacques Azoulay has spent his life surrounded by dogs, many of them rescues. Over time, he became acutely aware of the widespread issues of animal cruelty, abandonment, and the staggering number of dogs euthanized each year in the U.S. "Visiting a shelter breaks your heart - you just want to take them all home," he says.

The cause is noble, but the wines have to live up to the mission - and they do. Behind each of our 100% French wines is a dedication to quality and taste.

The Red: A rich and velvety Bordeaux, with Merlot dominance - perfect for any occasion.

Producer Description 

Maria de Maria Rigol Ordi Gran Reserva Brut Nature is made from 100% Xarello grapes from 40-year-old goblet vines in the Penedès depression, 300 meters above sea level, yielding 8000 kg/ha. Crafted using the traditional method.

Aromas of stone fruits and dried apricots, mediterranean herbs and balsamic touches. On the palate, dry, sharp finish with vibrant acidity that ends with a touch of salinity.

Winemaker Description 

Their Criolla comes from one of the oldest vineyards they work with. The vines here are more than 80 years old. Fermented partially with stems in concrete and aged in 2000L vats for eight months before bottling.

Winemaker Description 

Deep ruby in color with bright streaks of purple and garnet. The bouquet opens up with bright cherry and plum aromas with accents of sweet spices, vanilla and licorice. In the mouth, the flavors harmonize joyfully with sweet, silky tannins and a long, pleasant finish.

Showing its age with grace and elegance, this is a wine that’s drinking perfectly now. Makes a great accompaniment to red meat, wild game, mature cheese and hearty pasta dishes.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 98 Points | Subtle and beautiful on the nose with currants, flowers and light sage aromas that follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Extremely polished and poised.

The Wine Spectator 97 Points | Dripping with black currant, blackberry, black cherry, iron and toasty oak flavors, this red is suave and polished. Features flashes of tobacco and wild herbs that add even more detail as this builds to a long, kaleidoscopic finish. Presents civilized tannins that are well-integrated and provide structure. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.

The Wine Advocate 96 Points | Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight. The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit color this full-bodied Tuscan red.

The As Abeleiras “Viño branco de parcela” (Albariño) is released a year after the entry-level Albariño and comes from a single parcela planted in 1993 by a very young Pedro and his father. It sits at 100 meters altitude, also on granite soil. While the 2019 version was raised in steel, this year spent time in old French oak barrels. 

While the other two Albariños have a broad band of expressions and roundness due to the diversity of the many vineyard parcels in each wine, this single vineyard’s uniqueness offers a more vertical than horizontal experience. While the other two would be great for a bigger party of people because they jump into the mosh pit and start knocking people out on the first swing, As Abeleiras is initially more snug and better suited for a two-person tango. 

While the others are wonderful in their way, this is the thinker, the wine to observe and admire for its singularity, focused austerity, and tight, chalky and grippy texture. It’s a minerally beam of light. The others are mineral bombs.

Renato Ratti Battaglione — Barbera d'Asti 2024

Named after the heroic Piedmontese regiments of the XVIII Century, the Battaglione is Renato Ratti's flagship Barbera d'Asti — and the 2024 vintage delivers everything that made this label an icon. Sourced from estate vineyards in the Asti hills, the wine is crafted to showcase Barbera at its most expressive: ripe, generous, and immediately seductive, yet with the structure and acidity to hold its own at any table. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 93 points. At this price, it is one of the most compelling values in all of Piedmont.

The nose is intense and inviting: ripe red and dark fruits, wild berries, and a delicate spice background that adds intrigue without weight. On the palate, it is full-flavored and pleasantly fruited, with lush texture and bright acidity that keeps every sip lively. The finish is long and persistent — elegant, food-friendly, and deeply satisfying.

Wine Enthusiast 93 — "Mixed berries lounge in a hammock, showing exactly why Barbera earned its reputation as comfort wine with class."

• Producer: Renato Ratti, La Morra, Piedmont, Italy
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Barbera d'Asti DOC
• Varietal: 100% Barbera
• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation, oak aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe red fruits, wild berries, spice, bright acidity, long persistent finish
• Best Paired With: Hearty pasta dishes, braised meats, pizza, rustic Italian fare

A 93-point Barbera d'Asti at an honest price — Renato Ratti's Battaglione is the benchmark for what Piedmont's most food-friendly grape can be.

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 vintage overall was very similar to 2018. July, August, and into September were warm and very humid with significant rain during the fall with some places receiving up to 9” of rain in 24-36 hour periods at several different times over the three months.

Rains and frequent cloud cover during September and October made the season challenging. however, the long fall season gave us bright acidity and a fresh palate. The fruit was hand harvested on October 7, being carefully sorted in the field to only select the most clean fruit. 

Winemaking: The fruit was hand harvested and gently destemmed. After pressing, the juice was cold settled for 48 hours before being racked to a combination of four French oak barrels made by Dargaud Jagle, all medium toast (one new, one once used, one twice used, and one neutral). The juice was inoculated with VIN13 yeast and went through a swift but healthy fermentation followed by full Malolactic fermentation.  

The wine aged sur lie for 11 months being stirred biweekly by rolling the barrels with special racks meant to agitate the lees without introducing oxygen. After racking, it was gently fined with a small amount of bentonite prior to bottling. It bottled in November and was aged in bottle for 9 months prior to release in August 2022.

Winemaker Description 

The 2023 vintage overall was a classic vintage for the Finger Lakes. Budbreak was early and a hard freeze on May 13th threatened many vineyards.  June and July were very wet with frequent rains and high disease pressure.  Finally, mid-August the region saw some sun although rains continued at regular intervals.  The long fall season dried out a bit to make the vintage a very classic style with bright acidity and cool climate fruit flavors. It also allowed us to fully ripen the Cabernet Franc that makes up most of this blend in this fresh style of Rose.

Winemaking: To produce our Rose, we used Cabernet Franc which was pressed quickly to ensure a delicate rose color and minimal skin tannins. We allowed the pressed juice to sit on gross lees for several days before racking to enhance the body and texture of the final wine. Then a long, cool fermentation in stainless steel maximized the intense aromas and flavors. For the final blend we added a small amount of our Chardonnay fermented in a neutral French Oak barrel to lengthen the finish and solidify the acid backbone of the wine. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 98+ Points | So many beautiful primary fruit aromas. Al dente. Peaches. Very floral. Aromatic. Full-bodied and extremely fine tannins with length and beauty that show incredible depth. Superb brightness and reality. Exciting. Cabernet franc freshness and dynamics come through now, even though the blend is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

The Wine Advocate 96+ Points | This estate's shift in the direction of gentler extraction and more reductive, less overtly oaky élevage continues, and this extreme vintage only underlines that. Fermented at cool temperatures (20 to 23 degrees Celsius), and with an increasing proportion of the wine's Cabernet Franc component matured in large wooden foudres, the 2022 Angélus wafts from the glass with deep aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of iris, licorice and pencil lead. Full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a layered core of cool, vibrant fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish, it's a brilliant young wine in the making. The 2022 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 95 Points | The 2022 Angélus was cropped at 40hL/ha. It is aged partly in foudres (around half the Cabernet Franc, to be exact) and the remainder in new barrels, the Grand Vin with 14.45% alcohol and 3.65 pH. This takes a few minutes to unfold in the glass. Blackberry, iris petals and crushed stone notes are focused and delineated. There's opulence locked into these aromatics, but that is contained. The palate is medium-bodied with a mineral opening. Graphite and fresh tobacco thread through the layered black fruit, perhaps spicier than recent vintages. A gentle grip on the finish has some wood tannins to resolve, which should be addressed during its élevage. This will need several years in bottle, probably a decade; then I envisage this Saint-Émilion soaring.

Hermann J. Wiemer is one of the Finger Lakes’ founding fathers of fine wine — a pioneer who proved that New York could produce world-class vinifera. This certified organic Dry Rosé is a standout expression of the estate’s commitment to precision and terroir. Crafted primarily from Pinot Noir with a touch of Cabernet Franc for phenolic lift, the 2024 underwent 18 hours of skin contact followed by one month of indigenous yeast fermentation — a process that yields a bright, structured rosé with real depth and food versatility.

“The daffodils are blooming… It’s full of flavors that make us dream of warmer days: wild strawberry, raspberry, and a hint of cherry blossoms. Picture this with a slice of watermelon sprinkled with lavender sea salt.” — Hermann J. Wiemer

Food Pairings: Grilled salmon, seared scallops, summer salads, soft cheeses, charcuterie, watermelon, and light pasta dishes.

Varietal: Pinot Noir & Cabernet Franc
Style: Dry Rosé
Producer: Hermann J. Wiemer
Region: Finger Lakes, New York, USA
Vintage: 2024
Certification: Certified Organic, Estate Bottled
Skin Contact: 18 hours
Fermentation: Indigenous yeast, 1 month
Bottle Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description 

Arenisca is 100% Tinta de Toro from the Paraje Los Panaderos vineyard in neighboring Benialbo (within D.O. Toro), which is among the highest elevation sites in the appellation. Grapes were hand-harvested, wild yeast fermented with 40% stem inclusion in open vats with 30 days of maceration, then raised for 11 months in used French oak barrels.

The finished wine is bottled unfiltered, and just a touch of sulfur is added at bottling. 

Winemaker Description 

Welcoming aromas of violet, rose, fresh cherry, leaf and cocoa spice. This dynamic wine engages the palate with riveting and luscious black cherry, black raspberry and plum flavors accented with light forest wood notes and a charming dose of red earth spice. 

A sophisticated and concentrated Willamette Valley Pinot noir that is truly seductive, with a lush balance, seamless texture, and a long, complex finish that lingers. Still stunning when tasted two days later from a previously opened bottle.

Estate Grown

LIVE Certified

Expert Review - Vintage 2012

International Wine Cellar 92 Points | Bright red. Intense red fruit and blood orange scents are underscored by dusty mineral and spice notes. On the palate, taut redcurrant, strawberry and raspberry favors gain sweetness and flesh with aeration. Sexy oak spices build on the finish, which features silky tannins and an echo of fresh red berries. There's 70% new oak here and it expresses itself by spiciness, not vanilla or mocha.

Producer Description

Askos is the name of our project dedicated to the research, selection and cultivation of local heritage native varieties.The symbol is an askos, a Greek “decanter” dating from the 1st century B.C.

Deep ruby red. A wine with great character on the nose: sensations of black and red berries are backed by spicy notes, hints of licorice and cocoa and notes of eucalyptus. It is a full-bodied but not heavy wine, extremely satisfying and easy to drink. The alcohol percentage is well-balanced. Delicious now, it will age well.  

Winemaker Description 

Quite dark and earthy spice, a touch of dark chocolate, a touch of ethereal coolness, black pepper, and a hint of truffle spice.

But what a mineral, almost chalky grip and the inviting freshness of acidity. It's pure, precise, unvarnished, with edges and corners, and the acidity is top-notch; you just have to like it.

An incredibly nervy, yet racy style, despite the power. Has the potential to age for a very long time. Wow.

Winemaker Description 

The grapes of our Volcanic Riesling grow in the Valley of Tears in the northern Golan Heights which is the coldest and highest viticultural area in Israel. The fermentation was at 15.0-18.0 degrees C to achieve a delicate extraction of colors, aromas and flavors.

The wine has a golden straw with hint of green hue, with scents of Jasmin, pear and lime. Through the palate light medium bodied wine, that have flavors of green apples and lime. With nice and well balanced acidity, as well as a crisp and mineral texture.

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The Alfasi family founded Odem Mountain Winery, Israel’s northernmost winery. At 1,100 meters above sea level, it is tucked away in the heart of an enchanting, secluded oak forest, overlooked by Mount Hermon, where snowfall happens each winter. With wine of uncompromised quality, Odem Mountian tells the story of a loving family creating wine in a rugged, yet beautiful place. The Volcanic Riesling has a bouquet of blossoms and citrus and expresses the unique terroir of the high-elevation vineyards and volcanic soil of the northern Golan Heights.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2021 ÀN/2 was produced with 65% Callet, 20% Fogoneu and Mantonegro and 15% Syrah. It fermented in 4,000-liter oak vats and concrete and matured in French (60%), American (30%) and Central European (10%) barrels for 12 months. It has a moderate 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.51, with a bright ruby color and a nose with notes of smoky bacon and violets, with less influence from the barrels, which is more evident in the palate but does not overwhelm. It feels fresher than previous years.

Winemaker Description 

ÀN/2 is a perfect introduction to the wines of Mallorca. This unique red is made from old vine Callet, Mantonegre-Fogoneu and Syrah fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete—macerated only briefly to retain the freshness and flavors of the fully ripe fruit.

Aged for just over one year in a combination of 80% French barriques and 20% American oak.

Winemaker Description 

Beit El Or Yakar Cabernet Sauvignon is made from estate-grown grapes in Israel’s central mountain range. Aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels, this wine has a deep purple-black color and concentrated flavors.

Expect tastes of plum and warm blackberries, complemented by pleasant tannins and a long finish. This complex yet approachable Cabernet Sauvignon is both enjoyable now and suitable for aging.

There are no superlatives sufficient for the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Monopole 2015. The sole property of the DRC estate, the Romanée-Conti vineyard — a mere 1.8 hectares in the heart of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits — produces what many consider the greatest wine on earth. The 2015 vintage, harvested from vines averaging 56 years of age, has earned perfect 100-point scores from both Decanter and Wine Advocate, cementing its place among the most extraordinary bottles ever produced. Only 403 cases were made.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Founded in the 18th century and owned jointly by the Leroy and de Villaine families, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is the most celebrated wine estate in the world. Farming entirely by biodynamic principles, with yields among the lowest in Burgundy, DRC produces wines of transcendent complexity from the greatest Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte de Nuits — Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Grands-Échézeaux, and Échézeaux. The Romanée-Conti vineyard itself is a monopole — owned exclusively by DRC — and its wine is produced in quantities so small that it remains one of the most sought-after and collected bottles in existence.

Critical Acclaim — 2015 Vintage

100 Points — Decanter: "Aromatic fireworks of ripe red and black fruits, toast, spice and a note of decadent perfume lead into a complex palate showing pristine flavours of ripe raspberry, dark cherry, spice, cream and minerals. Lavishly upholstered by sweet, dense filigree tannins and buoyed by fine acidity — the opulent texture and presence of this wine is beyond remarkable. Arguably the ultimate terroir wine, this 2015 is also the epitome of truly great Pinot Noir. Drinking Window 2025–2060."

100 Points — Wine Advocate: "Opening to reveal a bouquet of kaleidoscopic complexity, notes of raspberry and red plum mingling with rose petal, peony, blood orange and spice. Silky, medium to full-bodied and stunningly complete, its supremely elegant tannins entirely cloaked in pristinely delicate red fruit. Despite its incredible concentration and persistence, this Romanée-Conti is utterly weightless, and its effortless harmony and unremitting finish preclude any argument about its benchmark quality."

99 Points — Burghound (Allen Meadows): "Sometimes, try as I might, words fail to communicate adequately those few transcendent experiences where a wine is just so amazing that it's impossible to capture it. The breathtakingly beautiful nose reveals an exotically broad range of highly perfumed floral, spice, tea and incense-like nuances. The opulently textured, concentrated and equally mineral-driven flavors accentuate the perfumed character of the nose — the finish lasted for seemingly several days."

98 Points — Vinous: "Enters the mouth like liquid velvet, expanding to show an incredible 3-D texture and great depth to its soil-inflected flavors of flowers, spices, mocha, underbrush and savory minerality. This utterly seamless, spherical wine saturates the entire palate like a thunderstorm breaking out across a wide front. Should easily evolve positively for three decades or more."

Tasting Profile

Profound and ethereal. The nose is a kaleidoscope of ripe raspberry, dark cherry, rose petal, peony, blood orange, spice, toast, and incense. On the palate it is simultaneously opulent and weightless — liquid velvet with a 3-D texture, pristine red fruit, savory minerality, and filigree tannins of extraordinary finesse. The finish is seemingly endless. A wine that defies description.

Details

2015 | Pinot Noir | Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Monopole, Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France | AOC Romanée-Conti | 750ml | 403 cases produced

Provenance & Cellaring

Harvested 10 September 2015. Bottled 22 March 2017. Drinking window 2025–2060. Store at 55°F in a dark, vibration-free environment. Decant 2–3 hours minimum if opening now. A wine for the ages — patience will be extraordinarily rewarded.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 91 Points | There is a touch of post-bottling reduction, but the underlying fruit seems to be ripe. On the palate there is excellent freshness and verve to the utterly delicious medium-bodied flavors that also exude a more prominent minerality on the beautifully textured, long and well-balanced finish that is shaped by notably fine-grained tannins. This is also lovely and a wine that should be approachable in its youth yet repay up to a decade of keeping, perhaps even slightly more.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Charles Curtis MW of Decanter Magazine writes 94 Points | Lucie Coutoux explained that although La Maltroie and Champgains (as they spell it) are roughly the same elevations on the band of premier crus, there is more limestone in Champgains that gives a bigger wine. In 2022, this shows ripe notes of passionfruit and lime peel with an accent of hazelnut and hay. The texture is supple and rich, almost fat, but pleasantly so. The grapes are from the domaine's parcel of 0.44 hectares at the top of the slope. Drinking Window: 2027-2050.

Jasper Morris of Inside Burgundy writes 92 Points | A glowing pale lemon yellow. There is a clear white fruit charm to this, a little more chiselled than the softly welcoming Chenevottes, with a limestone length and purity at the finish. Drink from 2027-2032.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 91 Points | This is aromatically similar to the Maltroie though with evident floral elements. There is slightly better volume and mid-palate density to the delicious and caressing but punchy medium weight flavors that possess a healthy amount of sappy dry extract while exhibiting better overall depth and persistence. This too should be approachable young but easily repay mid-term keeping.

Winemaker Description 

The 2018 Grace Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon exudes gorgeous dark red fruit, black cherry, black currant, accented by notes of bittersweet cocoa, black licorice, cigar box, resin, pink peppercorn, rose, and a hint of mint which offers freshness and lift.

The palate is broad and plush with layers of vibrant dark red fruit and spice seamlessly underpinned by soft, fine tannins and an extremely long palate. Drinking beautifully now, this wine will age at a glacial pace for years to come.

Expert Review -  Vintage 2021

Jasper Morris, MW of Inside Burgundy writes 96-98 Points | Fractionally denser in colour than Clos St-Denis with a meatier bouquet, some blood orange as well as the traditional blueberry of this vineyard. A little white pepper comes up. This is brilliantly complete, no feeling of a lighter vintage, with superb grace at the finish. Ripe alpine strawberries. 76% whole bunches. Drink from 2030-2038. 

Christy Canterbury, MW of TimAtkin.com writes 97 Points |  Spicy and smoky on the nose, tangy red currants and raspberries soak into the palate. The tingly acidity makes you sit up straight! The mulberry and açai flavors on the palate are complemented by lively minty lift. Dense and structured, this has mercifully eternal length. This beautifully expresses its structuring terroir and the vivid freshness of the vintage.

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 96 Points | The 2021 Clos-de-la-Roche Grand Cru comes from five lieux-dits. This was slightly more reduced than the Clos Saint-Denis, dark berry fruit, briary; a faint touch of seaweed emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-sculpted tannins, harmonious and tensile, again, discretely building with a transparent, lightly peppered finish that lingers in the mouth. Excellent. Drink: 2026-2050. 

Charles Curtis, MW of Decanter writes 96 Points | This wine is a contender for best in class and one of the very best of the vintage across all appellations. The colour is a fairly deep ruby hue, and the wine displays a lovely ripe plummy fruit with accents of mineral, cigar wrapper and earth on the nose. The texture is initially silky and approachable, but with time one sees that this is a powerful wine with lots of tannin behind that; it is a wine built for ageing. This wine has it all. Drinking Window: 2027-2050. 

John Gilman 95 Points | The 2021 Clos de la Roche from Domaine Dujac is also an outstanding young wine. The beautifully complex nose offers up scents of red and black cherries, plums, chocolate, mustard seed, venison, sweet stem tones, a marvelous base of soil and cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with fine depth at the core, good soil undertow, ripe, buried tannins and a long, impeccably balanced and vibrant finish. Outstanding juice in the making. 2037-2100. 

William Kelley of The Wine Advocate  writes 93-95 Points | More brooding than the Clos Saint-Denis, Dujac's 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries, sweet forest floor and baking spices. Full-bodied, layered and muscular, with impressive concentration and a long, rose-inflected finish, it's another of the range's high-points. 

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 92-95 Points | from a 1.95 ha holding in 5 different climats). This is also aromatically quite pretty with markedly floral-suffused aromas of poached plum, black cherry and a touch of green tea. There is both fine volume and energy to the powerful yet highly seductive medium weight plus flavors that culminate in a dusty, firm and youthfully austere finale. This is quite compact yet balanced and it stands a very good chance of being excellent in time. Drink: 2036+. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Jasper Morris 94-96 Points | Darkish purple colour. The nose is too reduced to speak at first, but the red fruit powers on through. The palate has everything it really should, with a level of energy and waves of fruit over and above the delightful Beaux Monts. Just the right acidity to finish. Drink from 2027-2035. 

Tim Atkin 95 Points | This is the smallest cuvée of Malconsorts that Dujac has made from these vines planted in 1995, in 1976 and in the 1960s. It is a bit cranky now with notable reduction and edgy, leafy freshness. However, the structure is marvelous thanks to the tangy acidity and creamy, lush tannins. Whole cluster spice, ripe red cherries and tobacco fill up the long finish. Give this a few years.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2021 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru has a very appealing, well-defined and poised bouquet with slightly leafy red fruit tones and a touch of dried blood in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It's much more "classic" and drier in style than the 2022, yet I appreciate the structure on the finish. This doesn't quite reach the level I expected from barrel, but it will give at least a decade of drinking pleasure. 

Wine Advocate 92-94 Points | Aromas of dark berries, smoked duck, spices and petals preface Dujac's 2021 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine that's structured and compact, standing out as one of the most backward, but also among the most promising, cuvées in the cellar.