2010 - Present Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Advocate 91 Points | Lazzarito stands out as one of the strongest wines in this portfolio of new releases from Vietti. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba the 2020 Barolo Lazzarito comes in at a very high threshold in terms of complexity offering dark cherry crème de cassis violet macaron dried herb and lavender. The wine's perfumes remind me of the south of France in summer. It shows elegant tannins streamlined intensity and good acidity. Production is 10626 bottles. (2020). 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Barolo Lazzarito is a blend of fruit picked before and after the early October rains. It marries power and finesse to a notable degree. Dark red fruit menthol licorice crushed rocks and dried herbs open nicely in the glass. This is a bit light for a Serralunga Barolo although the tannic structure is there. This is missing a bit of personality. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby-red color. The nose is explosive, powerful and wide-ranging. Fruity notes of plum, citrusy hints of cedar, grapefruit and spices emerge. After a few minutes in the glass, notes of violet flower—typical of the Brunate terroir—emerge. On the palate, it is intense and full-bodied. The soft, rounded and velvety tannins are typical of the La Morra area. The finish reveals a hint of licorice root.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Brunate has a dark and spicy side that is infused throughout the fruit. Dark cherry and blackcurrant are folded into ferrous earth grilled rosemary aniseed and a hint of fresh mint. Brunate tends to be quite austere and firm in terms of its aromas and this vintage shows those qualities well. In fact the character of the site comes through clearly. The wine has a precise angular personality and the fruit feels compact. Only 4988 bottles were made.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 Barolo Brunate is a dark beguiling wine. Black cherry dried herbs leather game licorice and incense lend gorgeous sepia-toned nuance. Brooding and inward the 2020 clearly needs time. It is a super-classic Brunate that is hard to read in the early going but the weight substance and power are clearly there. Dense meaty and dark the 2020 shows Serralunga-like intensity. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 99 Points | One of the palest and most perfumed Barolos from Vietti with a transparent, ruby-orange hue. This is a super nuanced, elegant, expressive and ethereal Monvigliero that grows on me, with enchanting notes of grilled grapefruit, thyme, frozen raspberries and mineral. A subtle splash of white pepper and mezcal-like smokiness. Really refined and transparent, with some citrus and mineral tensions that are closely knit with the fine, crumbled tannins. So much finesse and detail here, and its complexity will continue to unwind. Really composed, soulful and mind-blowing! An otherworldly, idiosyncratic Barolo that actually reminded me of the finest Gredo garnacha. A big wow that deserves attention. Vegan. Best with a Burgundy glass. Can drink now or from 2027.

Robert Parker 95 Points | A relatively new departure for Vietti, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is soft and delicate with pretty floral aromas, dried iris, powdered spice and a hint of tar or road pavement. The inaugural vintage was 2018. Made with 60% whole-cluster fruit during fermentation, the wine has a moment of tartness, punchy highlights, sweet grenadine and cranberry jelly. It ages in large oak casks for 24 months.

Winemaker Description 

Laser-focused and mineral-loaded with ripe layers of sun-kissed citrus fruits, mango peel, and crunchy yellow/green apple on a bed of crushed white rock and honeysuckle. It’s unabashedly delicious yet complex and bone-dry; a quintessential snapshot of a storied terroir. 

Want an authentic, elite bottling of Kremstal? This is it! Enjoy now and over the next 3-5 years.

Winemaker Description 

Initial powerful aromas of freshly cut grass and lime, followed by spicy aromas. Very nice the vanilla-bean. Elegant with vivid acidity, which gives the wine an enormous freshness. In the finish grated grapefruit peel. A really expressive Scheurebe! 

Meinklang Burgenland Red — Burgenland, Austria 2022

Meinklang is one of Austria’s most progressive and celebrated biodynamic estates — a large-scale family farm on the shores of Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland whose holistic approach to agriculture integrates viticulture, grain farming, and livestock in a self-sustaining biodynamic ecosystem. Certified organic, biodynamic, and fully vegan, Meinklang’s wines are an expression of place without compromise: no herbicides, no pesticides, minimal intervention in the cellar, and a commitment to indigenous varieties that reflects the character of Burgenland’s unique continental climate and fertile soils. The 2022 Burgenland Red is crafted primarily from Zweigelt — Austria’s most beloved indigenous red variety — in a style that prioritizes freshness, vibrancy, and sheer drinkability.

The nose is exuberant and inviting: ripe cherries, raspberries, and fresh red fruit, with a subtle spicy note that beckons the first sip. On the palate, the wine is youthful and zesty with a velvety texture, orchard-fresh fruit flavors, and a pleasing, smooth finish. It is vibrant, food-friendly, and deeply satisfying — the kind of biodynamic Austrian red that disappears fast at any table.

"An exuberant and vivacious red wine. A bouquet of ripe red fruits unfurls, featuring cherries and raspberries, complemented by a subtle spicy note. On the palate, an unexpectedly zesty freshness, with fruit flavors that evoke a stroll through an orchard in the height of summer." — Winemaker’s Notes, Meinklang

• Producer: Meinklang, Pamhagen, Burgenland, Austria
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Burgenland, Austria
• Varietal: Zweigelt
• Farming: Certified Organic, Biodynamic & Vegan
• Closure: Cork
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe cherry, raspberry, fresh red fruit, subtle spice, zesty acidity, velvety texture, smooth finish
• Best Paired With: Roasted chicken, grilled sausages, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, aged Gouda

Austria’s benchmark biodynamic Zweigelt at an honest price — Meinklang is the standard for what certified organic, vegan-made Burgenland red can deliver.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2020 

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | In this wine, the tannins are velvety, with black fruits that are immensely concentrated. The texture and powerful tannins provide superb foils for the fruit. Drink from 2027. Organic and biodynamic.

96 Points Vinous | The 2020 Durfort-Vivens is a dense, concentrated wine, just as it was en primeur. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, lavender, menthol and chocolate are some of the many notes that build as the 2020 shows off its breadth and sheer power. Striking inner perfume and sweet aromatics lend an exotic flair that is so distinctive. Superb.

95 Points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Durfort Vivens has turned out beautifully, unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark cherries and berries mingled with hints of licorice, baking chocolate and mint. Medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, it's layered and concentrated, with lively acids and broad structural shoulders, its generous endowment of powdery tannin asserting itself on the youthfully firm finish. More tightly wound than the extroverted, charming 2019, the 2020 will demand patience, but it's a very strong performance for this estate.

Expert Review

Josh Raynolds writes:  Inky ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruits, licorice, smoked meat and olive paste on the intensely perfumed nose. Concentrated blackberry, cherry and violet pastille flavors take on a suave floral nuance with aeration. Densely packed but lively as well, finishing with outstanding clarity, harmonious tannins and superb, blue-fruit-driven persistence.  Drinking 2025 - 2035  - Vinous 95

Anapea Village Mtsvane Orange Wine 2020 · Kakheti, Georgia

Winemaker Description

Anapea Village Qarvani produces Natural Wines exclusively using Georgian traditional methods. The winery uses 2 sets of Qvevris for both fermentation (6 months on skins) and aging. All farming is organic and biodynamic and the winery is a member, and strict adherent, of the Georgia Natural Wine Association.

Mouth is soft and rich with well expressed aromas of white cherry jam, ripe tropical fruits backed by lively acidity and long finish. Velvety bouquet, velvety fruit tones.

Memo Summary Notes

The Anapea Village Mtsvane 2020 is a traditional Georgian “Amber” (orange) wine produced in the Kvareli micro-zone of Kakheti. Winemaker Khatia Darguashvili is renowned for her strict adherence to ancient methods, producing wines that are essentially “time capsules” of Georgian history.

It is bone-dry with a “crunchy” texture. You’ll find notes of yellow plum, citrus zest, and tropical guava, balanced by the firm, tea-like tannins derived from the long skin contact.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Region: Kakheti, Georgia
• Grape: Mtsvane
• Type: Orange Wine
• Farming: Organic, Biodynamic

Winemaker Description

Winemaker Description

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic expression of Dalla Valle's unique terroir. The iron rich, core stone volcanic site comprised of Andesitic Basalt bring beautiful concentration and elegance to the wines each vintage. The 2020 is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, always 100% estate blend. Notes of perfumed violet and bergamot on the nose harmonize with aromas of allspice and cassis. On the first sip you will find rich notes of blackberry, cocoa powder and cedar box carried by the undercurrent of plush and elegant tannins. An elongated finish allows you to experience the full complexities of this wine, which will have a long life ahead. 

Expert Reviews

96 Points James Suckling | So much blackberry and lead-pencil shavings. Hints of tar, too. Full-to medium-bodied with extremely well-crafted tannins that run the length of the wine. Hints of oak at the end, but this will come together nicely with bottle age. Slightly chewy now. Some salted caramel. (2020). 

95 Points Robert Parker | Black cherries, dark loam and cassis appear on the nose of Dalla Valle's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, joined by hints of cedar and vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, firm, tannic and sturdy but essentially ripe, with a softness to its structure that suggests early accessibility. The long, mocha-tinged finish lingers elegantly, a delicious capstone to a super wine.

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid step up, boasting a deep purple color as well as a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and nicely integrated background oak. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, it hits the palate with medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's up with the top wines I've tasted in the vintage.

93 Points Wine Spectator | This has showy violet, boysenberry and sweet bay leaf notes that leap to the fore, with good juicy energy tucked inside the core. Offers nice flow on the finish, which picks up a loamy accent while the fruit keeps the upper hand. Drink now through 2035. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Los Vascos wines blend Lafite tradition with the unique terroir of Chile to create elegant wines that bring exceptional to the everyday. The vision of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) to expand their estates took them to South America in 1988, becoming the first French viticultural investment in modern Chile. Since then, a comprehensive modernization and investment program has been undertaken, oriented towards the production of fine wine using and adapting the viticultural experiences of Bordeaux and other areas where Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) is present. Los Vascos is located in Valley de Caneten (Colchagua), a closed valley in the central zone of Chile, approximately 25 miles from the sea. 

The valley provides a perfect microclimate for high quality viticulture, with Northern exposure to lands uncontaminated by airborne or water-borne pollutants. Daily on-shore winds provide temperature changes between 68-77°F, for optimum maturation of the grapes. With 1,581 acres on the over 5,000 acre estate, it is one of the largest vineyards in the central Colchagua valley, at the foot of Mount Cañeten.

Ripe plum and cherry-scented nose that also features notes of licorice, saffron, cinnamon, and nutmeg that enhance the complexity of aromas. Notes of graphite, clove, dark chocolate and cedar take the experience to a whole new level; A smooth and supple wine with sweet and friendly tannins. Producer Description. 

Critic Review

94 Points James Suckling | Complex and deep nose with plenty of nuance. A fine twist of balsamic with some graphite, cigar box and walnut to the background of cassis and sweet berries. Juicy and medium- to full-bodied on the palate with fine tannins. 92% cabernet sauvignon and 8% syrah.

Winemaker Description 

The Faìve Spumante Rosé Brut from the Nino Franco winery is obtained from a skilful blend of 80% Merlot grapes and 20% Cabernet Franc grapes. The vineyards are located in the heart of Valdobbiadene, a typical prosecco area, where the soil structure rich in nutrients and the very mild climate favor optimal development of the vines and the production of quality grapes.

This winery has been producing quality wines and sparkling wines for several years, combining two important concepts such as excellence and typicality of the products. To produce Faìve Spumante Rosé Brut, a specific production cycle is followed. After a brief contact between the skins and the must, the fermentation takes place in steel tanks before carrying out the second fermentation with the Classic Method.

The refinement takes place directly in the bottle. In this way an elegant and refined sparkling wine is obtained, with a persistent foam, balanced and ideal to be consumed during an aperitif. 

Winemaker Description

Dense black plum and blackberry fruit, with the characteristic garrigue aroma of wild herbs. There is still a good impression of freshness on the palate and fairly grippy tannins. Well-balanced and typical of the village. The vines in this half-hectare parcel south of the village are more than 60 years of age. 

Expert Reviews 

93-95 points Jasper Morris | Bright red crimson colour with very juicy red berry fruit on the nose, this has abundant energy and makes one salivate. There is its habitual garrigue touch at the back then a second helping of sweet raspberry fruit, Impeccable structure, a really interesting complex and refreshing wine. Gourmand in the best sense. The fruit just keeps coming back behind. A stunning result from a lesser known 1er Cru. Drink from 2028-2036. (2021). 

93 points Wine Spectator | Wild cherry, currant, sandalwood, smoke and earth notes are defined by lively acidity and refined tannins in this intense red. Accents of smoke and roasted game bird add to the complexity, while the texture is silky and the aftertaste long. Wait a decade at least on this. Best from 2027 through 2040. (2021). 

91-93 points Burghound | A perfumed, spicy and restrained nose requires aggressive swirling to coax the aromas of pretty essence of red cherry and crushed fennel to reveal themselves. The delicious, refined and vibrant middleweight flavors flash a subtle bead of minerality on the focused, balanced and sneaky long finish. This is a Roncière of punch and finesse. *Burghound Outstanding! (2021). 

90-92 points Vinous | The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Roncière 1er Cru has an open bouquet with red berry fruit, cedar and light graphite aromas. Fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, quite sapid in the mouth with a pleasant strictness allied with tension on the finish. Give this 3-4 years in bottle. (NM) Inner quote mark (1/2023). (2021). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

93 Points Decanter | Quince and pear. Rich and ripe but not overly so, it's silky on the palate, fairly high in alcohol, enjoyably full and opulent, with a fresh core. Includes a new parcel this year of 70-year-old Marsanne, so is now around 90% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne. The rest is a mix of 60-year-old and seven-year-old vines. Vinified in oak.

Expert Review

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Reynard will most likely merit a perfect rating in a decade, and it's a legendary Cornas in the making. Saturated purple-hued, with incredible aromatics of cassis, liquid violets, new leather, and bloody, iron, meaty nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, and flawless overall balance. It has an inward, massive, backward style (it reminds me slightly of the 2010) and tastes like the blood of Cornas. It will need 7-8 years (a decade will be better) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking wine and will absolutely blow you away over the following two decades. (2020). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Hints of crushed mineral and fresh herb persist from nose to finish in this intriguingly earthy yet elegant dry wine. The palate is vibrantly citrusy, offering shards of lemon and lime accented by dried-orange peel and spice. Medium bodied but silky in texture, it's freshened by pert lime acidity.

Winemaker Description

Delicate, micro-production & precise øø wines from Baden, Germany, rapturously referred to as the hot-bed of classic Burgundy-indebted Pinot Noir. (and, of course, Riesling)

Philipp Reiß is currently in the process of converting his family estate from grape growers to wine producers, and these are the first, errr - fruits of that labor to make it stateside. 

A profound expression of Riesling that, despite having zero additives, sure calls for a decant and some hours for it to truly unfurl its majestic crystalline reach.

Expert Reviews

94 Points Vinous | The 2020 Nebbiolo d'Alba Arione is bright, focused and tightly wound. There is a feeling of classic austerity (in a good way) that really drive the balance here. Bright red toned fruit, blood orange, chalk, mint, dried herbs and white pepper all race across the palate. This is Barolo in all but name. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner sweetness and perfume. What a knock out. The Nebbiolo d'Alba is made from a small piece of Arione that lists just outside the Barolo production zone. Drink 2027-2040. (2020). 

93 Points James Suckling  | Juicy and sweet fruit with some flowers and peaches to plums and cherries. Medium body. Bright and flavorful. Yet refined. Drink now. (2020). 

Audrey Frick writes:  The first vintage of the Nebbiolo D'Alba Arione was produced in 2019 and comes from a single vineyard of Anione outside the delimited region. Another barrel sample, the 2020 is fresh with wild strawberry and a gentle, red-fruited tone. Vibrant through the palate, with wild red berries, pomegranate, orange peel, and red flowers, this elegant and approachable wine delivers fine tannins, a long mineral/stony texture, and a tinge of iron-rich minerals on the finish.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points | The first vintage of the 2020 Nebbiolo D'Alba one was produced in 2019 and comes from a single vineyard of Anione outside the delimited region. Another barrel sample, the 2020 is fresh with wild strawberry and a gentle, red-fruited tone. Vibrant through the palate, with wild red berries, pomegranate, orange peel, and red flowers, this elegant and approachable wine delivers fine tannins, a long mineral/stony texture, and a tinge of iron-rich minerals on the finish. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Opaque, a dark core with a lighter deep red concession on rim. An eruption of fruits. At once lively and expressive, conceding Grange personality yet still not revealing all .... Dark coffee grind, malt and tapenade merge with black earths, almost verging on peat. Mandated V.A and formic notes propel a slurry of dark-skinned berried fruits, flirting with dark liquorice and soy. Oak completely hidden, long since absorbed. Now, back to the glass for a second sniff! Initially the ‘enlivened’ dark fruits of a Christmas pudding or boiled fruitcake mix demand attention. But there’s much more to complement these fruits – impressions of ironstone, graphite, iodine, black ink, and a black pudding viscosity. Formidable, meshed tannins – texturally honeycombed, without the honey! Oak has entwined itself invisible. Yes, every barrel still new, and completion of fermentation off skins in barrel still Grange modus operandi. Integrated, measured ... and clearly more than one sip required to gain an authentic ‘first-impression’. Certainly a wine of its vintage. A Grange of 2015. 

Expert Reviews

100 Point James Suckling | Much anticipated vintage for Grange and it is a powerhouse of concentration and complexity. Aromas of orange and lemon peel to start, then graphite, blackberries, plum paste, black cherries, boundless sweet oak spice, fresh cedar, tar, mahogany, roasted coffee and chocolate - the list goes on. Such complexity. Classic Grange, offering such deep, dark intensity. The palate has immense richness and depth with a super succulent and very long, fleshy, deeply weighted array of dense, velvet-wrapped tannins that run so long. The fruit flavors sit in the blackberry, blood-plum and blueberry zone with succulent, long and assertive structure, carrying through in an utterly seamless mode. The finish is tightly wrenched, in spectacularly powerful style, locking this wine in for a very long haul. Best from 2030.

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The flagship 2015 Grange is a monster of wine and one of those rare wines that blends power and elegance perfectly. Revealing a saturated purple color, it’s seemingly more forward and seductive than past great vintages, which I suspect is due to the incredible purity of fruit as well as the wine’s flawless balance than any change in winemaking or stylistic shifts. I also think the acidity is healthy, and the 2015 tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol, which is certainly in the sweet spot, if not tame, for beautifully ripe Syrah these days. A blend of 98% Shiraz and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in new American oak hogsheads, it offers an extraordinary perfume of sweet crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, camphor, Asian spices, licorice, and wildflowers. This is followed by a full-bodied, powerful yet incredibly seamless and elegant Shiraz that has no hard edges, a big, dense mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Coming close to rivaling the 1986, which has always been a benchmark vintage of Grange for me, the 2015 offers a more polished, elegant, approachable style. Vintage comparisons aside, this is a legendary example of Grange in the making. The savvy wine lovers out there will give this 7-8 years of bottle age (I’ll probably be out of bottles by then) and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades.

98+ Points Robert Parker | The nose of the 2015 Grange features the wine's characteristic lifted aromas, joined by pronounced American oak influence and bold blackberry fruit, plus hints of red meat, raspberries, asphalt and vanilla. It's dense and concentrated on the palate, full-bodied yet balanced and firm, with a rich, velvety texture and long, plush finish. Don't expect great complexity at this stage—it's much too young to show much more than the primary fruit and oak elements—but this is a Grange that should easily go three or four decades.

97 Points Wine Spectator | Distinctive and powerful, yet still elegant, showing restraint despite the dense and generous flavors. Precise notes of dark chocolate, maraschino cherry, mahogany and toasted coconut complement the core of wild blackberry and blueberry fruit. The tannins are smooth and polished, delivering some tug on the finish, which persists as subtle hints of dried lavender and white pepper linger. Drink now through 2040.

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | This vintage of the famed wine is perhaps its most approachable to date. The nose is open and expressive, with waves of aromas ranging from licorice, currant and plum to baking spice, furniture polish, freshly picked olive, mushroom and vanilla. The mouthfeel is satiny in texture, awash with fruit and spices of all shapes and sizes, all wound by fine tannins. Drink through 2040.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Burghound | A perfumed and exuberantly spicy nose offers up a blend of both red and dark cherry along with floral nuances. The wonderfully sleek, refined and punchy medium weight flavors possess a gorgeous texture thanks to the very fine-grained tannins supported the firm, youthfully austere and mineral-driven finish. This is textbook Fuées. Outstanding.

Expert Review

Winemaker Description

Tollot-Beaut’s Les Vercots 1er Cru is rustic and robust with aromas and flavors of red cherries, spice, and earth with substantial weight and ripe tannins. It is aged for 18 months in 50% new Burgundian pièce.

Red Burgundy might be the world’s most flexible food wine. The wine’s high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, and minimal tannins make it very food-friendly. Red Burgundy, with its earthy and sometimes gamey character, is a classic partner to roasted game birds, grilled duck breast, and dishes that feature mushrooms, black truffles, or are rich in umami. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

92 Points Jasper Morris | 11 barrels for one hectare equates to about 25 hl/ha. Because Vercots has a heavy soil they put some extra fine pinot clones in this vineyard, which has paid off in the quality of the fruit. Slightly paler in colour but with some finesse. A savoury sandalwood touch to the oak this time, but the vineyard tannins are not fierce. Made with an agreeably light touch. Drink from 2025-2030.

Winemaker Description

Cathiard is a tiny domain - there never is very much wine. You enter a spick and span white stucco suburban home in the center of the small village of Vosne Romanee. There is a walled vineyard outside the front door. Go down the staircase and you are in a minuscule cuverie and barrel room.

Sebastien Cathiard has been slowly assuming control of this top estate in Vosne-Romanée from his father Sylvain. He is now fully in charge, but the wines have been so good for so long that he wisely has changed very little. They continue to farm meticulously, de-stem and rigorously sort all the fruit prior to fermentation. The only thing he has changed is the gradual reduction of new oak, seeking a bit more purity of terroir expression.

Expert Review

"An ultra-fresh and very bright nose freely offers up its array of red berries, plum and even more floral wisps. There is again a lovely textured to the beautifully delineated and stony middleweight flavors that conclude in a youthfully austere, linear and chiseled finale. This is also really quite good and worth considering."
Allen Meadows-Burghound

Winemaker Description

2019 embodies classic Hillside Select richness, vibrancy, and balance. The aromas push out of the glass, offering black cherry, cedar, cassis, and juicy red summer berries with lifted floral tones. Even at this youthful age, the complexity of the vintage is striking, merging dark fruit with tobacco, espresso, black olive, red plum, and black tea. The expansive mid-palate is complemented by ripe integrated tannins that add depth and structure, culminating in a long, profound finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another magical vintage for this cuvée. All Cabernet Sauvignon from hillside vineyards on the eastern side of Stags Leap, it offers a vivid purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of cassis, black raspberries, violets, camphor, and spring flowers, with perfectly integrated background oak. Full-bodied but not massive, it’s flawlessly balanced on the palate and has ultra-fine tannins, a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. It’s another 30- to 40-year wine from this incredible team that readers will absolutely love. (2019).

98+ Points Robert Parker | Sourced from specific blocks of estate-grown fruit, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another highly successful vintage. All Cabernet Sauvignon aged 32 months in 100% new French oak, it boasts intense aromas of pencil shavings, dark loam, cassis and plum on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, super-ripe, rich, dense and concentrated—a truly impressive California vin de garde. Tannic but ripe, it finishes long and firm on the finish, adding a hint of mocha. To be released in September 2023, it's a strong showing and hopefully an indication that quality will remain high under the new ownership. (2019).

98 Points James Suckling | A beautiful nose of pitted cherries, redcurrants, fresh herbs and violets. Full-bodied with fine, structured tannins. More gravelly, mineral and dark than the nose lets on. Savory almost. Terrific depth and concentration that keeps the palate flavorful through the generous finish. Chocolate, sage, rosemary, bark and moss. Layered. Superb wine. Needs time to come together. Best after 2024 and onward. (2019).

98 Points Vinous | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted at Shafer. Effusive aromatics and silky tannins are immediately captivating. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, mint, spice, lavender and licorice are all finely knit. We will see, but the 2019 may very well represent a new direction for Hillside Select, one of Napa Valley's most iconic Cabernets. (2019).

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | This broad, rich and mouthfilling wine is Shafer’s most elite and collectible. Aged for 32 months in all-new French oak barrels, it boasts extra-ripe blackberries and blueberries, accents of mint, cedar and graphite, and a big structure of polished tannins. (2019).

94 Points Wine Spectator| A ripe, exuberant style, with generous plum cake, blackberry compote and açaí berry notes mixed with melted black licorice and a nicely polished, singed mesquite–accented finish. Hard to resist now (if you like the power style), but also has the energy to take some cellaring. (2019).

GAJA · Barbaresco · 2021 · Piedmont, Italy

GAJA Barbaresco 2021 combines vibrant fruit and floral elegance with finely shaped structure. Cherry, strawberry and floral notes meet licorice on a juicy palate, while the 2021 reviews highlight fresh acidity, expressive aromatics and substantial aging potential.

Barbaresco is the Gaja family's flagship wine, produced by successive generations since 1859. Rooted in Piedmont in northwestern Italy, the estate's identity is closely tied to this Nebbiolo wine and its balance of fragrance, fruit and structure.

Winemaker Description

GAJA: Located in Piedmont in northwestern Italy, the Gaja winery is widely considered to be one of the greatest estates in the world, producing coveted and collectible labels. Barbaresco is one of the greatest Italian wines, produced by each generation of the Gaja family since 1859. It is the flagship wine for the Family.

The nose of the 2021 Barbaresco is dominated by fruit, but also citrus and floral hints emerge. On the palate it’s juicy and the floral notes persist alongside scents of licorice. Subtle hints of cherry and strawberry create a harmonious blend of floral elegance and vibrant fruit flavors.

Expert Reviews · Vintage 2021

Jeb Dunnuck · 97 Points: A brightly jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Barbaresco is super-expressive, with loads of wild raspberries that leap from the glass along with notes of strawberries, pressed roses, fresh orange, and violet. As it opens, it evens picks up some spice box, cigar incense, and cherry notes. Crystalline in nature and ripe, this next-level red delivers ripe, sweet tannins, great tension, and fresh, vibrant acidity, without any austerity. A luxury racecar, it’s fantastic and possibly the wine of the year. Drink 2025-2055.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate · 96 Points: This was an epic vintage, and the entire Gaja family is ready to sing its praises. The 2021 Barbaresco sets the tone with sweet cherry flavors framed by spice, earthy notes and elegantly sweet tannins. Giovanni Gaja says the 2021 growing season had two phases: the first six months of the year saw rain and cool temperatures with some frost and soggy conditions until May; however, from June forward, the season saw sunny days without excessive heat spikes. In line with the character of the vintage, this wine shows succulent fruit that is balanced and not too ripe. There is depth and volume here.

Additional Expert Reviews · Vintage Not Specified in Supplied Text

Wine Spectator · 95 Points: A pretty red, elegant and expressive, offering strawberry, cherry, rose and mineral flavors. Refined tannins and vibrant acidity provide the right amount of support, giving an overall sense of harmony. This firms up nicely, turning more austere, with red fruit and savory notes on the long aftertaste.

James Suckling · 95 Points: The aromas of licorice, minerals, light tar and dark berries such as raspberry are so attractive. It’s medium-bodied with a tight and integrated palate of fine tannins that are seamless and unseen. It’s long and lively.

Wine Enthusiast · 95 Points: A pure embodiment of Nebbiolo’s elegance, this opens with enticing aromas of ripe red berries, violet petals and earthy undertones. The palate leaps forward with flavors of juicy cherries, plums and a touch of spice. A chalky minerality sits at the core, with fine-grained tannins that create a structure that’s perfectly balanced. Each part of the wine is precise and effortlessly flows into the next.

Historical Review · Vintage 2020

Wine Enthusiast · 94 Points · 2020: Blended across 14 vineyards, this wine shows the class, beauty and vitality of the noble Nebbiolo grown in the soils of Barbaresco. The wine opens with aromas of ripe cherries, warmed strawberries in sweet spices, fresh herbs and mixed flowers. The palate is lifted and vibrant with a verve that electrifies the palate as flavors of boysenberry, dried blood orange and black tea saunter about alongside well-intergrated tannins, making this wine drinkable now but ready for the cellar.

Food Pairings & Serving

Suggested pairings include braised beef, roast lamb, mushroom risotto or aged hard cheeses. Serve slightly below room temperature and allow time in the glass to explore the wine's developing aromatics.

Wine Details

• Producer: GAJA
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Barbaresco
• Region: Piedmont, Italy
• Grape: Nebbiolo
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• 2021 reviews: Jeb Dunnuck 97 points; Wine Advocate 96 points
• Jeb Dunnuck drinking window: 2025–2055

Fragrant, vibrant Barbaresco with the structure for a special meal or time in the cellar.

Winemaker Description 

This Napa Valley Merlot is sourced from a combination of high elevation mountain sites as well as wonderful benchland vineyards around the valley. Freemark Abbey blends in a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure and balance. The wine opens with aromas of ripe plum, blueberry, milk chocolate and cedar. The palate is met with flavors of wild raspberry, bramble fruits, allspice, cinnamon, dry herbs, and oak spice.

The textures are supple yet vibrant with well-integrated tannins that drink beautifully now on its own or paired with a wide range of dishes.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Vinous 90 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cordillera de Los Andes hails from Puente Alto in the Maipo Valley. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and foudres, this garnet wine presents a nuanced nose reflective of the cold year, with notes of currant, balsamic and lemon verbena. A hint of tomato leaf adds further complexity atop a subtle layer of oak. Dry and mild on the palate, the vividly structured palate delivers a taut mouthfeel in contrast to the expressive flavors.

Winemaker Description 

Intense, dark ruby red color. An exquisite aroma displaying classic notes of forest fruit, blackberries, and hints of leather. Wonderfully elegant on the palate, with soft tannins and a lingering finish of fruit and spices that concludes on a toasted bread note. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The nose is highly perfumed, showing aromas of black cherry, cassis, plum, desert sage, sandalwood and dusty minerality. Secondary aromas reveal notes of cigar box, leather, bay leaf and black olive.

The palate is rich and weighty, offering generous flavors of black raspberry, spicy currant and blueberry compote with impressions of Bing cherry, boysenberry, fig and baking spices. Ripe, fine-grained tannins carry into a structured finish with lingering accents of cherry, espresso and vanilla. 

Winemaker Description 

A bright antique gold wine. The bouquet is complex and inviting with notes of baked apple, quince jelly, biscuit crumb, spice and orange zest. To taste, there’s great intensity and lovely refreshing acid balance, with touches of stone fruit, peach and orange zest enhanced by a hint of sweet spice and a sapid, saline finish that lingers. A definite step-up in complexity and structure thanks to tiny yields and old vines.

Pair with meat or soup as starters, main dishes with truffles, grilled fish and poultry.

CK Mondavi Merlot — California (1.5L Magnum)

CK Mondavi is California's go-to for approachable, everyday wines that deliver genuine varietal character at an unbeatable price. This 1.5L Magnum — equivalent to two standard bottles — is the perfect format for entertaining, casual gatherings, and any occasion that calls for a generous pour. Medium-bodied, smooth, and built for the table, it is the kind of wine that earns a permanent spot in the rack.

The wine opens with inviting aromas of ripe cherries and plums with a hint of oak. On the palate, it is rich and fruit-forward with flavors of cherries, plum, and soft red berries, a gentle oak influence, and a smooth, fruit-filled finish. Approachable tannins and balanced acidity make it endlessly versatile with food.

"Medium-bodied with a hint of oak and flavors of cherries and plums. Rich in the mouth with a soft, fruit-filled finish." — Winemaker Notes

• Producer: CK Mondavi, California
• Appellation: California
• Varietal: Merlot
• Style: Medium-bodied, fruit-forward California Merlot
• Format: 1.5L Magnum (equivalent to 2 standard bottles)
• Vinification: Aged with a hint of oak to enhance fruit complexity
• Tasting Notes: Cherries, plum, red berries, hint of oak, smooth fruit-filled finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now
• Best Paired With: Grilled chicken, pasta with tomato sauce, burgers, mild cheeses, charcuterie

An everyday California Merlot in a crowd-pleasing Magnum format — CK Mondavi delivers reliable, fruit-forward character at an exceptional value.

Expert Reviews

Vinous Media 94-95 Points | Saturated magenta. Expansive aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, olive and black pepper show fine clarity and building florality. Smoky and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and baking spice flavors that slowly deepen through the back half. Becomes sweeter on the long, focused finish, which features grippy tannins and lingering floral and exotic spice notes.

Expert Review

Vinous Media - 95-97 points | Inky violet. Intense aromas of cherry, blackberry, olive, exotic spices and pipe tobacco are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance and a hint of bacon fat. Chewy and subtly sweet, offering concentrated, smoke-laced kirsch, dark berry preserve, espresso and licorice flavors and a spicy jolt of black pepper. Finishes impressively long and spicy, with chewy tannins and a building floral note.

Decanter 96: A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits indicates that this will be a fresh, well-balanced style of Cornas. The acidity is high this year, and the tannins are classically Cornas in their granitic grain and intensity. A highly structured year, this will always be a vintage for dedicated Cornas-lovers, there's no great wealth of rich fruit behind like in some recent vintages, but nonetheless this should age well. Very much a classic year, rather than the powerfully ripe and rich vintages we've seen since 2017. Whole-bunch fermented in concrete, aged in old foudres.(MW)

Distributor Notes

Clape’s Cornas is produced from a collection of old-vine parcels from the very best lieux-dits in the appellation including Sabarotte, La Côte, and Reynard. In these strikingly steep sites, gnarled head-trained Syrah vines must send their roots deep into poor granite soils for survival.

The old-vine fruit is vinified without destemming and aged in large, ancient wooden casks in the family cellars. It produces a majestically dark and brooding Cornas, layered with aromas of herbs and mint.

—Anthony Lynch

Winemaker Description

The color of the wine is dark red, almost black with blueish hues. Very expressive on the nose with red fruits and black fruit flavors. A good swirl in the glass release a large range of flavors and spice. Star anise, licorice, as well as empyreumatic notes and flint stones. It goes very wide and powerful on the palate at first, then well-defined structure and smoothness of the wine gives all its balance, fresh and full body. The length is highlighted by a great tannic structure. On the palate, it is highly aromatic with a great fruit expression melted with soft spices, blond tobacco leaf, licorice and graphite pencil like notes.

Expert Reviews

Robert Parker 100 Points | A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aging in 60% new barriques, the very deep purple-black colored 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte makes an impactful entrance, opening with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant pastilles, chocolate-covered cherries and molten licorice, leading to nuances of ground cloves, woodsmoke, crushed rocks and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit preserves and shimmering mineral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe and fantastically firm tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epically long-lasting earthy and savory layers. This is the singular voice of Smith Haut Lafitte at its finest, and wow-oh-wow is it worth a listen. This 2020 has an alcohol of 14.5% with a pH of 3.65. The tannins this year were a little higher than 2018 and 2019. A little less than a third of production went into this grand vin. (2020).

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points | Absolutely pure gold and reminding me of the 2009 (or is it the 2010?), the 2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte sports a dense purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of blackberries, blueberries, scorched earth, wood smoke, and acacia flowers. One of the most concentrated, rich, and sexy wines in the vintage, this massive and extraordinarily opulent 2020 shows the vintage's pure, elegant profile yet backs it up with sensational levels of fruit and texture. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it already offers pleasure given its wealth of fruit, but it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40-50 years. Not enough can be said about the quality of these wines. Bravo to Florence and Daniel Cathiard, as well as to director Fabien Teitgen, for another incredible achievement.

James Suckling 99 Points | Extremely fresh and deep in the nose with raspberry and blackcurrant character, as well as stone, fresh green tobacco and ink. Full-bodied with a dense center palate and gorgeous fine yet steely tannins. It calms down at the end with berries, citrus and some lavender. Salty at the end. Very minerally. Flinty. From organically grown grapes. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. (2020).

Wine Enthusiast 98 Points | This is a very fine wine, packed with tannins that are rich and suspended in the wine with its smoky edge and ripe blackberry fruits. The wine is direct in its fine, fragrant freshness and in its texture that gives power and concentration. Obviously for long-term aging. (2020).

Decanter 97 Points | Powerful on the attack, dense and concentrated at first then brighter on the retro-olfaction with layers of spice, liquorice and flowers. Intense but beautifully precise, with iris and peony aromatics coming in strongly as it opens in the glass. A ton of nuance and complexity, really takes its time, delivering a masterclass in restrained Pessac glamour. Average yields 30hl/ha for the reds. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak. (2020).

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Exotic and lush in feel, with well-steeped plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors rolling through, scored with hints of espresso crema, dark tobacco and black licorice along the way. Very polished in feel, but with a late flicker of savory and a subtle tug of earth to keep this honest in the end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026. (2020).