2010 - Present Wine

Davies Vineyards · Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon · 2022

Davies Vineyards traces its roots to the people who shaped the Schramsberg Estate. Hugh Davies describes that continuity as a link between earlier generations and the future, a sense of history carried into the winery’s work today.

For the 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Jeb Dunnuck describes a soft, supple, forward wine with plum, incense, baking spice and chocolate. Vinous finds it plump, juicy and expressive. For a pairing suggestion, serve with roast beef, lamb or a savory mushroom dish.

Producer Perspective

“It’s rewarding to be working on something that has roots that go beyond my life. Our business was started by my parents, but before my parents there were Jacob Schram and then the Pringles. Similarly, we can’t know exactly the course of the future ahead and yet there is a tangible link to the future ahead so you feel that you’re part of something that goes beyond your own life and I think there is something humbling and rewarding about that.”

Hugh Davies

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling. 92 Points  · 2022 — Bright red-fruit flavors mingle with ripe blackberries and black cherries in this deep and harmonious wine. Moderate tannins give a little grip to the delicious fruit and subtle oak spices. Drink now or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck, 90 Points · 2022 — A beautiful 2022 that's soft, supple, and forward, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley offers medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of plums, incense, baking spices, and chocolate. Based on 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot and aged 21 months in 62% new French oak.

Vinous, 90 Points · 2022 — The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is plump, juicy and expressive, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Soft, succulent contours wrap it all together. This is a fine showing for the vintage.

At a glance

• Producer: Davies Vineyards
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Napa Valley, California
• Country: United States
• Blend, per Jeb Dunnuck: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 6% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot
• Aging, per Jeb Dunnuck: 21 months in French oak, 62% new
• Size: 750ml
• Serving suggestions: Roast beef, lamb or savory mushrooms

A supple, fruit-forward Napa Cabernet with a family story behind it.

Gary Farrell Pinot Noir · Russian River Valley · 2023

Fragrant and balanced, this Russian River Valley Pinot Noir brings red cherry, rose petal and baking spice together with a subtle note of cedar. Juicy red fruit, blood orange and savory earth carry the medium-bodied palate, while bright acidity and fine tannins lead to a lingering, spice-accented finish.

The 2023 blend brings together vineyards across the valley, including Rochioli and Bacigalupi in the Middle Reach and Hallberg in cooler, fog-influenced Green Valley. A long, cool growing season allowed extended ripening while preserving freshness. Hand-harvested and sorted fruit, a small whole-cluster portion, cold soak and extended maceration built aromatic depth; nine months in French oak barrels, 35% new, added subtle spice.

Expert reviews · Vintage 2023

Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points — Focused aromas of black cherry, blackberry and cola waft on the nose of this Pinot. The palate brings bright fresh cherry, spice mélange and flowers with orange peel acidity and echoes of cedar, roses and plum through the finish.

Wine Spectator, 92 Points — A bright and friendly version, whose pomegranate and cherry fruit is engaging, with flashes of rose petal and iris skirting about. Offers a fresh, transparent finish.

From our team - David 67wino.shop

“Farrell’s most popular Pinot Noir—a best seller. Great fruit and easy drinking. Elegant is the word.”

David of 67 Wine

At the table

Serve with roasted duck, grilled salmon, herb-roasted pork tenderloin or wild mushroom dishes.

At a glance

• Producer: Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
• Vintage: 2023
• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Aging: 9 months in French oak, 35% new
• Alcohol: 13.9%
• Size: 750ml

A Russian River Pinot Noir with graceful fruit and an introductory offer.

Gary Farrell Olivet Lane Vineyard Chardonnay · 2023

Expressive and balanced, this Russian River Valley Chardonnay pairs vibrant citrus and delicate stone fruit with a supple, creamy texture. Fresh apricot, tangerine and lemon zest mingle with peach, honeysuckle and a quiet pastry note. Bright citrus brings lift to the palate and keeps the richness in check.

Planted in 1975 to Wente-selection Chardonnay, Olivet Lane Vineyard sits on sloping benchland in the Santa Rosa Plain, between the warmer Westside Road area and cooler Green Valley. Warm days, chilly evenings, coastal breezes and fog help preserve acidity, while well-drained loam and clay soils give this site its concentration and finesse. The long, cool 2023 season allowed fruit time to develop flavor without losing freshness.

Expert review · vintage not specified in existing review text

Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points — The nose of this Chardonnay hits with aromas of tart citrus, green apple, white flowers, and a charge of flint. The palate possesses nervy acidity and pithy texture, with flavors of Bosc pear, cinnamon, lemon blossoms, and stemmy herb mélange through the finale. A little time in the cellar will soften this out nicely. — Tom Capo

From our team - David of 67wino.shop

“Perfect for the Burgundy lover who desires a California Chardonnay. Meursault in character. Aged in old barrels. Dry and lean on the palate.”

David of 67 Wine

At the table

Pair with seared scallops, lemon-roasted chicken, grilled shrimp or crab cakes.

At a glance

• Producer: Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
• Vintage: 2023
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Vineyard: Olivet Lane
• Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Alcohol: 13.6%
• Size: 750ml

A single-vineyard Chardonnay with citrus energy, graceful texture and an introductory offer.

Gary Farrell Rochioli-Allen Vineyard Chardonnay · 2022

Rich yet focused, this Russian River Valley Chardonnay opens with honeysuckle, ripe pear and sliced almond. Stone fruit and a generous texture meet crisp acidity for a finish that keeps its depth in balance with freshness.

The fruit comes from historic blocks near the Russian River, where gravelly soils contribute to the vineyards' character. Most of the blend draws from Rochioli's River Block, planted in 1989, alongside the Mid-40s Block, planted in 1993, and Allen Block 1, planted in 1995. Gary Farrell's relationship with Rochioli began more than four decades ago with a handshake, a partnership reflected in this vineyard-focused bottling.

Expert review · Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points — A whisper of flinty reduction dances at the margins along with grilled pineapple, fresh lemon, and Granny Smith apple on the nose of this Chardonnay. The palate features lightning rod acidity framing flavors of nectarine, pithy lemon, candied ginger, and white flowers lingering through a lengthy finish. Tom R. Capo

At the table

Pair with butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken with cream sauce or a delicate mushroom risotto.

At a glance

• Producer: Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
• Vintage: 2022
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Vineyards: Rochioli and Allen
• Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Size: 750ml

A vineyard-driven Chardonnay with richness, lift and an introductory offer.

Col d’Orcia · Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020

One of Montalcino’s original estates, Col d’Orcia is known for a traditional approach that lets Sangiovese lead. The estate’s limestone and marl vineyards sit about 1,500 feet above sea level between the Orcia River and Sant’Angelo in Colle. In 2020, a frost-free winter and dry spring were followed by summer rain that supported ripening; the Consorzio del Brunello and a panel of Masters of Wine rated the vintage five stars.

The hand-harvested grapes fermented for 18–20 days in temperature-controlled, shallow stainless-steel tanks. The wine aged three years in large Slavonian and Allier oak casks, then a year in bottle. Expect ripe cherry and sour cherry, hints of jam, vanilla and light toast, balanced tannins, and a savory, persistent finish.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate · 94 points · 2020: The organic Col d'Orcia 2020 Brunello di Montalcino offers a classic Sangiovese bouquet with warm-vintage intensity. It shows sweet aromas of raspberry tart and cooked cherry. There is a delicate element of smoked spice at the back. The tannins are open-knit, and the wine offers immediate drinking pleasure. It should be exciting to follow this wine's future evolution. “We try to protect the freshness of Sangiovese,” says Count Francesco Marone Cinzano. “That is our reading of traditional Brunello.”

Decanter · 93 points · 2020: Among Montalcino’s larger estates, Col d’Orcia is also one of the region’s most consistent values – especially given its solid ageing potential in most vintages. The 2020 is no exception. There is a captivating sumptuousness to the nose as it radiates lush red cherries and strawberry bush. With air, an underlying flintiness emerges, as well as a mix of sweet garden and exotic herbs. A surprisingly hefty structure of dry, sandy tannins curbs its generosity, while leather and orange lurk through the stony core. Somewhat muddled now, but harmony is within sight.

Jeb Dunnuck · 93 points · 2020: A saturated red color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino was aged three years in barrel and captures the richness of the southern sector while staying pure and energetic. It offers ripe aromatics of black cherries, dried herbs, leather, and dark earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has ripe tannins, bright acidity, and a savory finish with a touch of warmth.

James Suckling · 93 points · 2020: A fresh and refined red with plum and orange character, as well as fine tannins. It’s medium-bodied, lively and focused. A little tight at the end, suggesting two or three years will allow it to open. A more traditional Brunello here. Drink after 2027.

Vinous · 92 points · 2020: The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly with a blend of black cherry and minty herb scents elevated by hints of blood orange. It displays silky textures and a lifted feel, with tart wild berry fruit aromas and mineral tones accentuated by rosy inner florals. The 2020 imparts edgy tannins offset by a tinge of zesty acidity.

Wine Spectator · 92 points · 2020: Balsamic notes of tomato leaf, juniper and thyme rub shoulders with strawberry, cherry, blood orange and earth in this dry, elegant red. Ends firmly, with lightly chewy tannins and a mouthwatering feel. Best from 2027 through 2042.

• Producer: Col d’Orcia
• Wine: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape: 100% Sangiovese
• Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
• Style: Organic red wine
• Size: 750ml

A classic, cellar-worthy Brunello, balancing generous Sangiovese fruit with savory depth and traditional oak aging.

Antinori · Pian delle Vigne · Rosso di Montalcino 2024

Pian delle Vigne is Antinori’s estate in the hills surrounding Montalcino, Tuscany. The 2024 Rosso di Montalcino is a Tuscan red for the table, suited to pairing with hearty, savory dishes.

Expert Review · 2023 Vintage

Jeb Dunnuck · 90 Points · 2023
A youthful medium red hue, the 2023 Rosso Di Montalcino is expressive and ripe out of the gate, with notes of baked red cherries, leather, and balsamic herbs. Plush and inviting, the palate is ripe with pliant tannins and medium to full-bodied richness. It's delightful now and will drink well over the coming 5-6 years.

Food Pairings

Enjoy it with pasta with tomato sauce, roasted poultry, grilled meats, or aged cheeses.

At a Glance

• Producer: Antinori
• Estate: Pian delle Vigne
• Wine: Rosso di Montalcino
• Vintage: 2024
• Country: Italy
• Region: Tuscany
• Bottle size: 750ml

A versatile Tuscan red for relaxed dinners and generous, savory food.

Prunotto · Bric Turot Barbaresco 2022 · Italy · 750ml

Prunotto Bric Turot 2022 brings berry fruit, floral perfume, and aromatic herbs together in an elegant Barbaresco. The supplied reviews emphasize inviting fruit, supple texture, and an aromatic finish, making this a compelling bottle for a thoughtful meal.

Character & Style

The winemaker describes lively ruby color, wild berries, white pepper, licorice, pine, mint, and laurel, followed by a velvety, harmonious palate. Critics add strawberry, cherry, pressed flowers, menthol, and a lightly chalky finish. The supplied reviews differ on aging expectations: Jeb Dunnuck suggests 2025–2040, while Vinous favors enjoying its accessible, mid-weight character without waiting too long.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck · 92 Points - Moving on to the last of the Barbaresco from Prunotto, the 2022 Barbaresco Bric Turot exhibits a slightly deeper ruby hue and takes on a more complete feel in the glass, with aromas that are just a bit more nuanced on the nose, featuring notes of grenadine, pressed flowers, fennel, and menthol. The palate is snappy with refreshing, ripe acidity, silky tannins, and its sweetly perfumed fruit lasting on the finish. It's another very well done wine that has the bones to age a bit further perhaps. Drink 2025-2040.

Vinous · 92 Points - The 2022 Barbaresco Bric Turot opens with hints of baking spice, new leather, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and menthol. Aromatic and pliant, with lovely balance, the 2022 is a delight to taste. In this vintage, the Bric Turot is quite open and accessible, even in the early going. I would not wait too long, given the wine's mid-weight structure.

Wine Spectator · 92 Points - A fruity version, boasting strawberry, cherry and rose flavors, plus a hint of tar. Elegant and juicy, this lingers nicely on the lightly chalky finish. Supple and inviting.

James Suckling · 90 Points - A restrained style with watermelon fruit, ripe red cherries and a not-too-deep whiff of balsamic. Medium- to full-bodied, this has slightly candied flavor and light-framed yet grainy tannins allied to moderate acidity.

Winemaker Notes

Bric Turot is an intense ruby red color, lively and luminous. On the nose, aromas of wild berries meet notes of white pepper, licorice and aromatic herbs in particular pine, white mint, and laurel. The palate is velvety, harmonious, elegant, and defined by a lengthy persistent finish.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions

Serve slightly cool and allow time in the glass. Consider roast lamb, braised beef, mushroom risotto, or aged cheese.

Wine Details

• Producer: Prunotto
• Wine: Bric Turot
• Appellation: Barbaresco
• Vintage: 2022
• Country: Italy
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Supplied reviews: Jeb Dunnuck 92, Vinous 92, Wine Spectator 92, James Suckling 90

MAGNUM SIZE: Agrapart · L’Avizoise Grand Cru · Champagne 2019

Grand Cru pedigree. Remarkable depth. Magnificent in magnum.

A magnum of vintage Blanc de Blancs from Avize in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs, L’Avizoise is Agrapart’s expression of the upper hillside, where the estate’s existing producer profile describes more clay over the chalk. This is the powerful side of Avize, framed by the chalky character that defines the village.

The Agrapart family has bottled Champagne under its own name since the domaine’s founding in 1894. Pascal Agrapart helped establish its reputation for site-driven wines; Ambroise joined him in the 2018 vintage. For this 2019 Extra Brut, the 1.5-liter format makes a striking bottle to open around a generous table.

From the existing producer profile

“At the top of the hill where there is more clay, he produces his most powerful wine, ‘L’Avizoise’.”

Powerful, expressive, and beautifully textured, Pascal Agrapart’s Avizoise 2019 showcases the generous side of Grand Cru Chardonnay. Presented in an impressive 1.5-liter magnum—the equivalent of two standard bottles—this vintage Blanc de Blancs brings depth and elegance to a celebratory table or a carefully chosen Champagne collection.

The 2019 combines ripe orchard fruit and citrus with floral nuances, freshly baked bread, and a chalky mineral character. Its concentrated, richly textured palate is enlivened by fine bubbles and vibrant freshness, delivering a Champagne with both presence and finesse.

The Vineyard: Grand Cru Avize

Avizoise comes from the Robarts and Gros Yeux parcels in Avize, a Grand Cru village in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs. These sites share a deep layer of clay-rich topsoil over chalk, a geological profile that contributes to the cuvée’s distinctive density and richness. Made entirely from Chardonnay, Avizoise expresses this terroir in a style that is generous, elegant, and particularly well suited to the dining table.

About Pascal Agrapart

Based in Avize, Pascal Agrapart is a grower-producer working exclusively with estate-grown grapes. Pascal and his son Ambroise tend approximately 12 hectares of vineyards, predominantly planted to Chardonnay in Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs.

The domaine places living soils at the center of its vineyard philosophy. Ploughing and compost made from local ingredients help sustain the health of the vineyards, while careful harvesting and pressing preserve the character of the fruit. The Champagnes are bottled at the estate without fining or filtration and are riddled by hand.

Serving & Food Pairings

Serve in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or a white wine glass to allow the aromas and texture to unfold. Suggested pairings include butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, turbot with a creamy sauce, or aged Comté. The magnum format makes an especially striking centerpiece for a dinner or celebration.

Wine Details

• Producer: Pascal Agrapart
• Cuvée: Avizoise
• Vintage: 2019
• Region: Champagne, France
• Origin: Avize, Côte des Blancs
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Bottle Size: Magnum — 1.5 Liter

Ratings & Reviews

Vinous 97

97The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs L’Avizoise Grand Cru is dialed up to the maximum. Ample and broad on the palate, the Avizoise is seriously impressive right out of the gate. So expressive today, the 2019 will only improve over time. Even in the early going, it soars with tremendous textural resonance and body. The natural gravitas of these sites (Champboutons and Bionnes) in Avize comes through loud and clear. The Avizoise is the most dense and potent of these Champagnes from Agrapart. It is bottled with no dosage but does have 3 grams of natural residual sugar. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2025.

97 James Suckling

Reviewed October 2025

An austere nose of lime zest, chalk and lemon leaves. It needs time in the glass to become gentler, with lemon curd and apple flavors, pinprick bubbles, a medium body and very good concentration that’s typical of the vintage. A restrained wine with zesty, integrated acidity and a super tight-knit texture. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate 95 Points 

Review Date: 03/2026

Disgorged in October 2025 without dosage, the 2019 Blanc de Blancs Avizoise leaps from the glass with a flamboyant bouquet of orange confit, ripe peach and rose apple, mingled with freshly baked bread. On the palate, it is full-bodied and immensely concentrated, open-knit and muscular, with a rich, textural core of fruit and succulent yet vibrant acidity, enlivened by a pinpoint mousse and concluding with a flavorful finish tinged with orange. Avizoise is often the richest and most demonstrative wine in the portfolio, but this year it goes well beyond that descriptor. A residual sugar of around four grams per liter lends a more generous, giving style, and the wine will age on its concentration rather than its acidity. As ever, it derives from clay-rich soils in the commune of Avize and is typically where Agrapart begins the harvest; yields were reduced by some 30% due to frost this year. (KK)

An Avize-focused Champagne for a gathering worth opening a magnum.

Domaine Charvin · Côtes du Rhône · Le Poutet · 2024 · 750ml

The Producer

Founded in 1851, Domaine Charvin is now run by Laurent Charvin, the sixth generation of his family to farm the estate. Soon after taking over from his father, Laurent set aside most modern winemaking technology and converted all 28 hectares, including 10 hectares of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, to organic viticulture. Fermentation is traditional and whole-cluster, stems and all, and the wines are raised entirely in concrete, never barrel. For years Laurent was almost alone in working this way. Now others are following his lead. He's regarded as one of the appellation's top winemakers by Guy Julien of the renowned restaurant La Beaugravière in Mondragon, as well as by leading French sommeliers and wine writers. As of 2023, Domaine Charvin joins only Clos des Papes, Clos du Mont-Olivet, Château Rayas and Le Vieux Donjon as a 3-star Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer in the RVF Green Guide.

The Vineyard

Le Poutet comes from vines averaging 50 years old, some as old as 90, in parcels that border Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Maucoil to the northwest, and Campovin and Boislauzon to the northeast. The soils are sandy clay and limestone scattered with galets, the famous rounded stones of the southern Rhône.

The Wine

Roughly 80% Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan, the grapes see a 15 to 20-day whole-bunch fermentation with daily pump-overs, then 18 months in concrete vat before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The result stands shoulder to shoulder with many Châteauneuf-du-Pape: complex aromas of garrigue and spiced red fruit, with the structure to evolve for ten to fifteen years.

Pairings & Serving

Made for Provençal cooking: herb-roasted lamb, daube de bœuf, grilled sausages, ratatouille or aged hard cheeses. Serve around 60–64°F, and give it some air in its youth.

Specs

• Producer: Domaine Charvin
• Wine: Le Poutet
• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC
• Region: Southern Rhône, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Blend: ~80% Grenache, with Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan
• Vine age: Average 50 years (up to 90)
• Farming: Organic
• Élevage: 18 months in concrete, unfined and unfiltered
• Size: 750ml

Châteauneuf soul at a Côtes du Rhône price, from one of the southern Rhône's great traditionalists.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia · Bolgheri Superiore · 2022

Ornellaia 2022 combines concentrated dark fruit, sweet spice and elegantly integrated tannins in a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Tuscan blend. Blackberry, black cherry, lavender, cedar and dark cocoa unfold with savory mineral accents, freshness and a richly textured finish.

Please Note — Label Variation: Ornellaia 2022 was released with two official label designs: the classic Ornellaia label and the limited-edition La Proporzione artist label. Bottles are shipped based on availability, and customers may receive either label. The wine and vintage are identical regardless of label design. Specific label requests cannot be guaranteed.

Vineyards & Winemaking

The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Fruit comes from parcels including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Many vines were planted in the 1980s, with an average vine age exceeding 20 years. Approximately 80 individual wines are made before final blending.

The wine ages for 18 months in oak, up to 70% new, using barrels from different coopers, forests and toast levels. Petit Verdot plays an increased role in 2022, adding structure, dark-fruited complexity and length.

Expert Reviews

The Wine Advocate, 97 Points · 2022 Vintage
"Tasted a few months after it was bottled, the Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be coming to market in March 2025. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine sees 18 months of aging with up to 70% new oak, but the trick, proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi tells me, is drawing from a large group of coopers with different toast levels and forests. "I don't want to make a wine of any one tonnellerie," he says. The oak element is crucial to the identity of this wine that reveals dark fruit, blackberry, sweet spice and cinnamon. Most of the vines were planted in the 1980s, and the average age of the plants is over 20 years old. Fruit comes from many parcels, including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Indeed, some 80 wines are made before final blending. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. Petit Verdot plays a slightly larger role in this vintage and was one of the surprise hits of 2022. It serves to elongate the wine and adds to its length. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts."

James Suckling, 97 Points · Vintage 2022
"A Mediterranean-style wine. Stunning elegance on the nose, with vibrant dried eucalyptus leaves, flowers, restrained brambleberries and hints of black cherries, dried bananas, milk chocolate, cloves and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with elegant tannins and a touch of dust. It’s savory and well packed, with integrated, brilliant freshness and a ripe, fruity finish with a toasty aftertaste of blond tobacco. Try from 2026."

Jeb Dunnuck, 96 Points · 2022 Vintage
"The 2022 Ornellaia is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. A deep but bright purple/red color, it has a fantastic nose of blackberries, polished cedar, lavender, sweet herbs, and dark cocoa. Full-bodied, it has a rich structure, with warming concentration but a very balanced feel. The tannins are ripe and frame the underlying mineral notes very nicely, its fruity richness fleshing it out harmoniously."

Vinous Media, 96 Points · 2022 Vintage
"The 2022 Ornellaia is a terrific wine for the year. Dark red-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice all take shape in a mid-weight, pliant Ornellaia that is quite alluring, even in the early going. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot, unusual for the elevated presence of Petit Verdot, which did better than Franc in 2022. The higher percentage of Petit Verdot comes through in the wine’s dark-leaning personality and also in the quality of tannins. More than anything else, the 2022 is a reminder of how important a tool blending is, especially in challenging years. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2022 Ornellaia is clearly among the most successful wines of the vintage."

Decanter Magazine, 95 Points · 2022 Vintage
"Ornellaia 2022 is bold, dark fruited and spicy at this early stage, reflecting the increased percentage of Petit Verdot used in the blend. Production director Marco Balsimelli settled on 10% Petit Verdot to lend more structure to the otherwise quite soft tannic profile. Not lacking in brooding complexity, it swirls with peppery and herbal nuances and some lovely fresh acidity which carries through to a bright finish. As is characteristic of the 2022s in Bolgheri, this is overall a more compact and dense style compared to the previous year. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot."

Pairing Suggestions

Try with grilled steak, roast lamb or mushroom dishes to complement the wine's concentrated fruit and savory character.

Details

• Producer: Tenuta dell'Ornellaia
• Wine: Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore
• Vintage: 2022
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Tuscany
• Appellation: Bolgheri Superiore
• Grapes: Cabernet blend
• Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot
• Type: Red wine
• Aging: 18 months in oak, up to 70% new

A landmark Rioja with old-vine depth and modern elegance. First produced in 1986, Barón de Chirel helped establish a new direction for premium Rioja, combining Marqués de Riscal’s heritage with Bordeaux-inspired winemaking. The 2020 vintage delivers a compelling combination of concentrated fruit, complex aromatics and substantial structure.

Sourced from low-yielding vineyards around Elciego, with vines approximately 80–110 years old, this wine captures the intensity of exceptional old-vine fruit. Individual parcels are fermented separately in French Allier oak vats, followed by 16 months in French oak barrels and a further 20 months of bottle maturation before release.

Tasting Notes

Expressive aromas of dark berries, violets and graphite unfold with subtle leather and integrated oak. The palate is rich and concentrated, with layers of dark fruit supported by ripe, energetic tannins. Its combination of depth, structure and aromatic complexity makes this a distinctive choice for collectors and lovers of powerful Rioja.

Ratings & Critical Acclaim

100 Points — Guía Proensa
The producer lists a perfect 100-point score for the 2020 vintage.

97 Points — Guía Peñín 2026
A standout score for the 2020 vintage, confirmed by Marqués de Riscal.

96 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: From century-old bush vines, the 2020 Baron de Chirel blends Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon aged entirely in French oak. It’s made in a modern style, powerful, intensely concentrated, and undeniably herbal and earthy. It can only be made in certain vintages because the two varieties ripen so differently – Tempranillo early and Cabernet late – so getting them to hit around the same time has been challenging over the years; sadly, climate change may be changing that, with Cabernet ripening sooner than it often used to. Currant, tobacco leaf, and dark cherry exude from a full-bodied core of supple tannin and lovely violet aromatics, a true testament to how well these grapes work together in the right hands.

93 James Suckling: Iodine, mussels and some dark chocolate with blackberries and dark plums. Pretty opulent and a little more generous than the 2021 and 2019. More muscular, too, with fine-grained tannins and a long, creamy finish.

93 Points — Wine Enthusiast: Commanding intensity and palate coating tannins lead the charge with this full-bodied Tempranillo. Aromatics of crushed fennel seed, wet tobacco, and cocoa linger through flavors of dark fruits robed in spiced chocolate. A kiss of balsamic appears through the finish. Lavish, structured, and delicious..

Food Pairings

Pair with roasted lamb, grilled steak, venison or slow-cooked game. It also complements cured ham and mature cheeses, making it an excellent centerpiece for a Spanish-inspired dinner.

Wine Details

Producer: Marqués de Riscal
Wine: Barón de Chirel
Vintage: 2020
Appellation: Rioja DOCa, Spain
Style: Full-bodied red wine
Principal Grape: Tempranillo
Aging: 16 months in French Allier oak barrels, followed by 20 months in bottle before release
Alcohol: 15.5% ABV
Bottle Size: 750ml
Serving Temperature: 16–18°C / 61–64°F

Clos du Bois · California Chardonnay · 2024 · Magnum 1.5 Liter

Clos du Bois Chardonnay 2024 comes in a generous 1.5-liter magnum, bringing California Chardonnay to the table in a format made for sharing. Each magnum holds the equivalent of two standard 750ml bottles, a practical choice for a dinner gathering or celebration.

This listing features the 2024 vintage in the larger bottle format. For anyone planning a shared meal, the magnum keeps the wine service simple while giving the table a distinctive centerpiece.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions

Serve chilled and allow the wine a little time in the glass. As general Chardonnay pairing ideas, consider roast chicken, baked fish or creamy pasta, adjusting your choice to the wine’s character once opened.

Wine Details

• Producer: Clos du Bois
• Vintage: 2024
• Region: California, United States
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Style: White wine
• Bottle size: 1.5 liters
• Format: Magnum, equivalent to two standard 750ml bottles

California Chardonnay in a magnum format for sharing around the table.

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia · Barbaresco Serraboella Sorì Paitin DOCG · Piedmont · 2022

For eight generations the Pasquero-Elia family has farmed the hills of Neive, weathering wars and hard vintages to build a deep, lasting bond with their land. Since 1893 their Sorì Paitin, the warmest, steepest, southwest-facing slope of the Serraboella MGA cru, has been one of the traditional benchmarks of Neive's Barbaresco.

Paitin's approach is rooted in classic Piedmontese winemaking and in patience: long macerations and unhurried aging that let the terroir speak. In 2022 the family didn't make its Vecchie Vigne, so fruit from those old vines went into this bottling instead, which makes it an especially strong year for this wine.

Tasting Notes

Dark and layered, with graphite, licorice and pencil shavings over raspberry, macerated cherry, strawberry and blood orange. Clove, hazelnut, rose and a cool mint lift emerge as it opens. The active limestone soils give it volume, firm tannins and bright, steely acidity. It's a structured, long, detailed Barbaresco that will reward cellaring.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

96 Points — Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Because the Vecchie Vigne was not made in 2022, fruit from the old vines was directed to this wine instead. The Paitin 2022 Barbaresco Serraboella Sorì Paitin is a beautiful wine with dark elements of graphite, dusty root, pencil shaving and licorice. This site has active limestone, and this brings a sense of greater volume in terms of mouthfeel, tannic firmness and balanced acidity."

94 Points — James Suckling
"Well defined aromas express a striking mix of clove, mushroom and hazelnut. On the palate, sweet spice infuses the raspberry canvas. This is vertical and fairly austere, with dry tannins around the edges which bolster the wine with a forceful grip. Steely acidity accentuates, and some cooling mint, rose and pepper emerge as the wine opens. Dynamic rather than elegant, and in need of more time. In Piemontese dialect, sorì refers to the best exposed slope of a hill. For the Paitin estate, that means the warmest, steepest section of the Serraboella MGA, which faces southwest."

93 Points — Wine Spectator
"A generous, lively red, this evokes strawberry, cherry, raspberry, rose hip, eucalyptus and mineral flavors. Firmly structured, with a linear path of assertive tannins gripping the finish. Nonetheless, this is long and detailed."

91–94 Points (Barrel Sample) — Vinous
"The 2022 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin is a promising wine. Although not fully formed, the 2022 possesses notable textural depth. Macerated cherry, blood orange, spice, menthol and crushed autumn leaves build with some coaxing. I am looking forward to checking in on this once it has been bottled."

Pairings & Serving

• Tajarin or risotto with white truffle or mushrooms
• Braised beef, brasato al Barolo, and slow-roasted lamb
• Wild game and aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano and Castelmagno
• Decant 1–2 hours and serve at 60–64°F. Cellar-worthy for many years.

Specs

• Producer: Paitin di Pasquero-Elia
• Wine: Barbaresco Serraboella Sorì Paitin
• Vintage: 2022
• Country: Italy
• Region: Piedmont
• Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG (Serraboella MGA, Neive)
• Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
• Type: Red wine
• Size: 750 ml

A 96-point, old-vine-boosted Barbaresco from one of Neive's great historic crus.

The 2023 The Eyrie Pinot Noir comes from the historic vineyard where The Eyrie Vineyards began—one of the foundational sites of Oregon Pinot Noir. Complex, structured and remarkably elegant, this limited-production bottling captures the character of old vines and the distinctive volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills with exceptional clarity. The Eyrie is the winery’s original vineyard and home to the hawks that inspired the Eyrie label. Its seven acres of Pinot Noir were planted from the mid-1960s through 1974 with Wädenswil, Pommard and Upright clones.

Situated between approximately 260 and 410 feet in elevation, the vineyard faces south while rolling toward eastern and western exposures. Eyrie identifies this historic site as the original planting of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley. All of Eyrie’s estate vineyards are certified organic and farmed using regenerative, no-till practices. The emphasis is on maintaining healthy soils and biological diversity while allowing the vines and individual vineyard sites to express themselves with minimal intervention.

The 2023 vintage began with a cold, dry early spring followed by substantial April rainfall. A warm, dry summer with cool nights provided steady ripening, while late-August rains refreshed the vines ahead of an exceptionally favorable September harvest. Eyrie describes the resulting wines as vivid and aromatic, with moderate alcohol and firm yet balanced structure.

In the cellar, The Eyrie Pinot Noir is fermented with native yeast in small 11-hectoliter open-top fermenters and punched down by hand twice daily. It completes native malolactic fermentation before aging for 14 months in a blend of cooperage incorporating approximately 19% new oak. Eyrie uses essentially the same vinification for its single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, allowing differences in site, vine age, elevation and exposure to remain at the forefront.

The 2023 The Eyrie is dense and compact while retaining the graceful character for which the estate is known. Layers of ripe berries are joined by citrus, savory herbs and earthy nuances. The palate is full and firm but beautifully balanced, with restrained oak allowing the purity of the fruit and vineyard character to dominate. It is already compelling with generous aeration, yet its concentration and structure point toward significant cellar potential.

Expert Rating

96 Points — Paul Gregutt: Gregutt describes the 2023 as a particularly strong expression of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, emphasizing its density, balance and tightly wound structure, along with a complex combination of berries, citrus, herbs and earth. He particularly notes the remarkably subtle influence of new oak and the purity of the underlying fruit. Only 236 cases were produced.

A compelling piece of Oregon wine history and an exceptionally distinctive Pinot Noir, The Eyrie combines old-vine depth with freshness, restraint and precision—a cellar-worthy expression of one of the Willamette Valley’s most historically important vineyard sites.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: The Eyrie
Clones: Wädenswil, Pommard & Upright
Elevation: Approximately 260–410 feet
Farming: Certified Organic / Regenerative No-Till
Fermentation: Native Yeast, Open-Top Fermenters
Aging: 14 Months, Approximately 19% New Oak
Alcohol: 13.98%
Production: 236 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml

The 2023 Outcrop Vineyard Pinot Noir is a beautifully focused and distinctive expression of the Dundee Hills, combining bright red fruit, savory complexity and the stony mineral character that defines this unique Eyrie estate vineyard.

Outcrop Vineyard takes its name from the ridge of underlying rock that runs perpendicular to the hillside. Situated above Eyrie’s historic original vineyard, the five-acre site ranges from approximately 280 to 360 feet in elevation and faces north-northeast. The vineyard is planted to the Wädenswil clone of Pinot Noir, with vines dating from the early 1980s through 2000. Despite its northern exposure, reflected warmth from the neighboring original Eyrie vineyard helps ripen the fruit while preserving freshness and aromatic detail.

Eyrie farms its estate vineyards organically and practices regenerative, no-till viticulture, with particular attention to soil health and biodiversity. The vineyard’s thin, rocky volcanic soils contribute to the distinctive mineral and savory personality of Outcrop Pinot Noir.

For the 2023 vintage, Eyrie’s single-vineyard Pinot Noirs were vinified using native yeast in small open-top fermenters, with hand punch-downs and native malolactic fermentation, followed by approximately 14 months of aging. The single-vineyard wines are deliberately produced using the same cellar approach so that differences in vineyard, elevation, exposure and vine age remain clearly expressed in the finished wines.

The 2023 Outcrop is notably precise and mineral-driven, opening with raspberries and pomegranate alongside blood orange and subtle red licorice. A distinctive stony, almost steely mineral quality runs through the wine, while tea-like tannins add savory structure and grip. Elegant in weight yet firmly structured, it balances vivid fruit with earthy complexity and a long, textured finish.

Expert Rating

95 Points — Paul Gregutt Gregutt highlights the wine’s rocky, mineral character, raspberry and pomegranate fruit, blood orange and red licorice, with substantial tea-toned tannins supporting the finish. Only 198 cases were produced.

An expressive, site-driven Oregon Pinot Noir that beautifully demonstrates Eyrie’s restrained winemaking philosophy and the individual personality of one of its historic Dundee Hills vineyards.

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Outcrop Vineyard
Clone: Wädenswil
Elevation: Approximately 280–360 feet
Farming: Certified Organic / Regenerative No-Till
Fermentation: Native Yeast
Aging: Approximately 14 Months
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 198 Cases
Bottle Size: 750ml