2010 - Present Wine

Winemaker Description

The wine is rich in mineral and citrus flavors and reminds us of what great white Burgundy tastes like!

The high-altitude, north-facing Scopus Vineyard harnesses a blend of lush California flavor tempered with cool-climate structure hanging on firm acidity and moderate body. Stone fruit, citrus and spice come to mind on the palate, all marked by the vineyard’s classic mineral core. There’s a modest hint of toasty oak framing the ensemble, which ends long and fresh. 

Kosher for Passover

Expert Review - Prior Vintage 2022

93 points Wine & Spirits | 2022 marks the fourteenth vintage for Covenant® Chardonnay Lavan®. The wine is made from grapes grown in a small vineyard on Sonoma Mountain. Jeff began working with this vineyard -- called Scopus -- back in 2010, when he made some Chardonnay for the vineyard's owners. He liked the wine so much, that he decided to make Scopus Vineyard the core of our Lavan® program the next year.

Winemaker Description 

Leads with deep red cherry, mid-palate of bright red fruit, balanced acidity, earth tones and minerality, complemented by earthy spices of clove and black pepper notes. Long finish of pepper with rich mouth feel. Gorgeous wine with long life ahead!

Winemaker Description 

With plenty of lovely, rich tannins, this Pinot offers up flavors of dark red fruit, subtle oak and nutmeg-clove spice.

DuMOL · Wester Reach Pinot Noir 2024 · Russian River Valley · 750ml

DuMOL’s Wester Reach Pinot Noir brings together valley vineyards and cooler western ridges in a layered expression of the Russian River Valley. The 2024 combines cherry and raspberry fruit with floral perfume, dried herbs, and spice, balancing depth of texture with a bright, lingering finish.

Character & Style

Winemaker Andy Smith describes a medium-bodied wine with rose petal, hibiscus, black cherry, and dark raspberry. The supplied critics highlight refined texture, red-toned fruit, mineral detail, and refreshing acidity.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling · 95 Points
A pleasing mix of wild berries and red and black cherries with hints of cola and spices. Medium-bodied, plush and refined, showing orange black tea and a little anise in the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck · 94 Points
The 2024 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is a youthful rub -red hue and is more red-fruited, minty, and floral in profile, with the highest percentage of estate fruit to date. Medium-bodied, with spicy pomegranate fruit, refreshing acidity, and excellent structure.

Vinous · 91 Points
The 2024 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is a very pretty, elegant wine. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint and crushed rocks are finely drawn in this nervy, taut Pinot Noir. The 2024 is a wine of detail and nuance. Give it a year or two to soften a bit.

Winemaker Description

Andy Smith · Viticulturist, Winemaker & Partner
Our “Wester Reach” Pinot Noir is a multi-layered interpretation of this classic region where we live and farm vines. It includes some of the finest sites in the appellation - vineyards that we have planted, farmed or harvested for thirty years. Comprising three of our region’s unique sub-districts, the wine blends fruit from the valley with vineyards further west, stretching out to the coolest ‘reaches’ of the appellation’s high elevation coastal ridges. Each district contributes something unique, be it valley-floor texture and volume, ridgeline fruit intensity or bright coastal acidity.

The 2024 season saw a wet winter, a mild spring, and a hot July. Fortunately, harvest temperatures were gentle and mild, allowing steady progression to perfect maturity. Irrigation was not required, but we needed to crop thin to bring the vines into balance. Harvest took place over a stress-free three-week period. Berry size was moderate, so the wines have obvious concentration with an intense fruit core and fresh balancing acidity.

Aromas and flavors akin to rose petal, hibiscus, black cherry and dark raspberry. An edge of dried herb and Asian spice. Medium-bodied with deep layers of texture and lovely fruit purity. Turns sleek and succulent on the bright lingering finish. Drink between 2026 and 2034.

Vineyards & Winemaking

• 33% Flax Estate Vineyard
• 26% Dr. Galante Estate Vineyard
• 21% Dutton-Jentoft Vineyard
• 20% Occidental Road Vineyard
• Harvest dates listed: August 21–September 12
• Fermentation: Native yeasts, 25% whole clusters
• Aging: 11 months in 228L French oak barrels, 30% new, followed by 3 months in tank
• Bottled unfiltered
• Production listed: 4,500 cases of 750ml

Additional Press Mention

The supplied producer material also lists 94 points from Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent. No accompanying review text was supplied.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions

Serve slightly cool and allow time in the glass. Try with roast duck, salmon, mushroom dishes, or herb-roasted chicken. The winemaker’s suggested drinking window is 2026–2034; Vinous recommends allowing a year or two for the wine to soften.

Wine Details

• Producer: DuMOL
• Cuvée: Wester Reach
• Vintage: 2024
• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Russian River Valley
• Origin: California, United States
• Bottle size: 750ml

Winemaker Description 

Bright nose of fresh cranberry and red raspberry mixed with spice notes of white pepper and earthen floor. The brightness carries through to the palate, filled with flavors of pomegranate mixed with a panoply of red fruits, spices, white pepper and a subtle crisp minerality.

The mouth-feel integrates earthiness with the fresh fruit and fine tannins in the mid palate.  The finish is long and rich, revealing silky tannins combined with emerging cherry, gentle minerality, lustrous acidity and white pepper.

Winemaker Description

The blend is dominated by the Estate Vineyard, yet the significant percentage of Walker—Kanzler's Green Valley vineyard—bends the wine in an exciting red-note direction: hibiscus, rhubarb and red licorice. The aromatics deliver fresh berries, cola, white pepper and pine sap. Fig notes emerge on the palate with a spicy, black tea finish. Modest whole cluster and slightly more new oak make the wine soft and approachable, while bright acid keeps it fresh, juicy, and well-knit.

Frey Vineyards Mendocino Chardonnay Organic 2023 — Mendocino County, California

Frey Vineyards is a true American original. Founded in 1980 in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, Frey became the first certified organic winery in the United States — and has remained one of the country’s most committed producers of organic and biodynamic wine ever since. Their wines are made with no added sulfites (NSA), no synthetic pesticides, and no chemical additives, offering a pure, unmanipulated expression of the grape and the land.

This Mendocino Chardonnay is fermented in stainless steel with minimal oak exposure, preserving the grape’s natural freshness and fruit character. The result is bright and approachable: hints of apple, pear, and a touch of caramel on the nose and palate, with clean acidity and a light, refreshing finish. No sulfites added — ideal for those with sulfite sensitivities or anyone seeking a cleaner, more natural wine experience.

America’s first certified organic winery. No sulfites added. Pure Mendocino Chardonnay.

• Producer: Frey Vineyards, Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California (est. 1980)
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Mendocino County
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Farming: Certified Organic, Biodynamic
• Sulfites: No Sulfites Added (NSA)
• Vegan: Yes
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Apple, pear, caramel, light acidity, clean refreshing finish
• Best Paired With: Pumpkin risotto, honey-glazed carrots, scalloped potatoes, grilled fish, light pasta, fresh goat cheese

Organic, honest, and genuinely delicious — Frey Chardonnay is the benchmark for clean California white wine.

Winemaker Description

An open-knit nose of wild plum, almond and orange with underlying notes of salted bread. On the palate, the wine shows considerable body and a complex array of flavors including lemongrass, peppermint and quince. As the wine breathes scents of orange blossom and honeysuckle come to the fore and mingle with the soft, spicy accents of cumin and nutmeg.

Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews

Cazé-Thibaut · Naturellement Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut · Base 2023 · Champagne

Fabien Cazé, a tenth-generation grower, farms selected family parcels for his own small Champagne project. Naturellement is made entirely from Pinot Meunier grown across six parcels in Châtillon-sur-Marne and Vandières, on the western side of the Vallée de la Marne.

The family has tended these vineyards for generations, and Fabien's estate has been certified organic since 2018. Vineyard work is done by hand without herbicides or pesticides, with minimal soil disturbance. In the cellar, the grapes are pressed slowly and gently, moved by gravity, and fermented with native yeasts in barrels.

Extended time on fine lees and a restrained cellar approach let the fruit and place remain at the center. The result is a pure, precise Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut that showcases Pinot Meunier in a focused Champagne style.

At a Glance

• Producer: Cazé-Thibaut
• Cuvée: Naturellement
• Base: 2023
• Style: Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Meunier
• Vineyards: Six parcels in Châtillon-sur-Marne and Vandières
• Region: Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Size: 750ml

A precise, vineyard-led Champagne that puts the character of Meunier and the Marne Valley in the spotlight.

Parés Baltà Cosmic Blanc · Penedès · 2025

Cosmic brings together native Xarel·lo and Sauvignon Blanc in an organic white from Parés Baltà’s Les Valls-Les Torres estate. The producer describes vineyards at 600 meters above sea level within a Natural Park, with Sauvignon Blanc lending freshness to the blend. Its name pays tribute to the biodynamic viticulture practiced in the vineyards since 2012.

Flowers, white fruit and green apple lead the aromatic profile, with citrus and mineral accents. The palate combines green apple and white flowers with a dry, crisp texture, finishing with grapefruit and chamomile. Serve it with fresh salads, rice dishes, white fish, sushi or soft cheeses.

Producer Description

Within the vineyards located on our Les Valls-Les Torres estate, at an altitude of 600m above sea level and within a Natural Park, grow grapes of the native xarel-lo variety, the flagship variety of the Penedès. With these grapes we make the organic white wine Cosmic. Our freshest and most perfumed xarel-lo thanks to its coupage of the Sauvignon blanc variety, which gives it freshness, creating a perfect balance between the two varieties.

The name of this wine, Cosmic, is a tribute to the biodynamic viticulture that we have been practising in our vineyards since 2012, an agriculture based on a holistic, systemic and pure vision of agriculture in which, among other influences, the moon, stars and planets are taken into account.

Parés Baltà · Producer Description

Winemaker Description

Very intense aroma, flowers, white fruits and green apple with a citric and mineral touch. The palate is full of nuances - green apple and white flower flavours merge with a deeply mineral quality that extends into a dry, crisp texture. The wine finishes with hints of grapefruit and chamomile. Wonderful.

Pair with fresh salads, rice dishes, white fish, sushi and soft cheeses.

Parés Baltà · Winemaker Description

At a glance

• Producer: Parés Baltà
• Wine: Cosmic Blanc
• Vintage: 2025
• Origin: Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
• Grapes: Xarel·lo and Sauvignon Blanc
• Style: Dry, crisp white wine
• Viticulture: Organic; producer describes biodynamic practices since 2012
• Size: 750ml
• Pairings: Fresh salads, rice dishes, white fish, sushi and soft cheeses

A floral, citrus-bright Penedès white with a crisp mineral edge.

Winemaker Description 

This historic estate, situated in the hills just south of Aix-en-Provence, has been in the hands of the Rougier family for two centuries and holds a virtual monopoly on the appellation of Palette. Château Simone encompasses twenty hectares of vineyards that sit on limestone soils at elevations between 500 and 750 feet above sea level on the slopes of Montaiguet. The special mesoclimate of this appellation is influenced by the encircling pine forests, the mass of Mont Sainte-Victoire, and the Arc River. 

The vineyards were reconstituted after the invasion of phylloxera but many vines are over a century old. The Rougiers maintain the particular vinification methods developed and cherished over many decades. All of the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, lightly pressed and fermented for 15 to 20 days in small wooden vats with only wild yeast, then put into small foudre to rest on the lees. 

The red from Simone is an elegant yet well-constituted wine of great depth. It is primarily composed of Grenache and Mourvèdre but its special character reflects the presence of a mélange other grape varieties, albeit in small proportion, including Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castet, Manosquin, Théoulier, Tibouren, Picpoul Noir, and Muscat de Hambourg. 

Winemaker Description 

This new vintage from Camino Romano, is a vintage that has been classified as 'very good' in D.O. Ribera del Duero. Camino Romano has been produced in D.O. Ribera del Duero by Bodegas Dominio Romano.

This wine is a single variety Tinto Fino (100%) grown from a rigorous selection of vines which are between 15 to 30 years old.

As for the production, in order to extract the maximum aromatic potential of the grape, they use "cold soaking", a modern technique that extracts aromas and colour of the wine with little input from the tannins.

Finally, Camino Romano undergoes an aging of 12 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels of 2 and 3 years old.

Winemaker Description

The Gattinara spends a minimum of 3 years in large oak whereas both crus see at least four years in large oak.

Expert Review - Vintage 2018 

Vinous 95 Vinous | The 2018 Gattinara is a stunning wine in the making. Extraordinary in its complexity and nuance, the 2018 dazzles with a kaleidoscope of aromas, flavors and textures. Kirsch, hard candy, flowers and lively acids captivate the senses. The 2018 is elegant, weightless and full of character. It is, quite frankly, everything Gattinara can and should be. This is a great place to start for readers who want to know why the 2018 vintage is so magical at Nervi-Conterno. If it weren't for the single-vineyard wines, I would have said the 2018 is one of the very best wines that have ever been made here! (2018). 

Robert Parker 94 Points | Roberto Conterno acquired Nervi in 2018, and this is the first vintage in which the brand name is listed as Conterno Nervi (as opposed to Nervi Conterno, or just Nervi). Fully under his winemaking watch, the 2018 Gattinara comes from a vintage that performed well in this part of Alto Piemonte. Roberto had the confidence to produce his two single-vineyard expressions (Vigne Molsino and Valferana) in 2018, which is not exactly intuitive, as the growing season proved more challenging in other parts of Piedmont. But Roberto interprets each vintage with a keen eye and deft approach that is often contrary to his peers. I think what stands out here is the freshness, the balance of acidity that plays nicely into the minerality of the wine and the brightness of its wild rose and redcurrant flavors. This Gattinara carries a lot of fruit and primary intensity, all backed by subtle touches of balsam herb and soft tarry end notes. This 2018 underlines the elegance in Nebbiolo. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

This small winery is the project of Sandrino Quadraroli, the owner of one of the finest restaurants in central Marche, Osteria del Borgia. Always a champion of the wines of his region, starting in 2012 he was finally able to crown his dream of producing wine. 

The 4 hectares estate was planted in 1999, upside down Guyot system, on clay, sandy and calcareous soil 500 meters above sea level on the south-facing hills right above lake Caccamo in the township of Serrapetrona located in the mountainous central part of the Marche region. 

The focus of the winery is the grape varietal indigenous to this sub-region: Vernaccia Nera, not found anywhere else in the world. This grape has a long history, however it was traditionally vinified sparkling and semi-sweet, possibly in order to tame the bold characteristics that this varietal has: crushed white and black pepper. Over the past two decades or so, a new generation of wineries in the area is concentrating on exalting the unique character of Vernaccia Nera and are bottling still, dry wines. The results are fascinating: the wines are distinctive, aromatic, full-bodied but elegant and vibrant, with good minerality and refreshing acidity. 

Orin Swift · Machete · California Red Blend · 2022

Machete is Orin Swift’s Petite Sirah-driven California red — a wine that wears its power unapologetically. Named for the blade, it is built for those who want something bold, brooding, and uncompromising: inky, chewy, and loaded with dark fruit. The 2022 blends Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Grenache, aged 12 months in French oak (36% new), and earned 91 points from Wine Advocate for its combination of ripe, full-bodied intensity and surprising brightness on the finish.

The 2022 Machete pours an opaque, inky garnet with a neon violet rim — be careful, it stains. The nose opens with powerful notes of bright black plum, slate, cacao, wild sage, and crushed gravel. On the palate, brooding blackberry pie and ripe blue fruits are tempered with hints of orange peel and Amarena cherry. Chewy tannins, classic Petite Sirah, soften over time and culminate in a lengthy finish with a note of sweet oak. Full-bodied, mouthwatering, and built to impress.

“A blend based on Petite Sirah, the 2022 Machete features classic Petite Sirah aromas of black cherries, blueberries and licorice. Full-bodied and big-boned, this is very ripe, yet it’s surprisingly tart, mouthwatering and bright on the finish, framed by ripe, softly dusty tannins.”
— Wine Advocate · 91 Points (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Orin Swift Cellars, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: California
• Blend: Petite Sirah, Syrah & Grenache
• Aging: 12 months in French oak, 36% new
• Style: Dry red — full-bodied, inky, brooding
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Black plum, blackberry pie, blueberry, cacao, slate, wild sage, orange peel, Amarena cherry, sweet oak finish
• Pairings: Dry-aged ribeye, braised short rib, lamb chops, smoked brisket, aged cheddar

WA:91 · California — Petite Sirah-driven, inky and brooding. Orin Swift at its most uncompromising.

Winemaker Description

Blaufränkisch, also known as Lemberger, is a beautiful varietal full of fruit and spice! 

There's a reason this vineyards been winning awards. On the nose I get cassis with some rubber and a definite minerality. Some herbal notes are hiding in the background. The palate brings forth licorice and black raspberry with those currants. There's a slight jammy quality with great acid and some beautifully lingering tannins. It's deliciously drinkable for a cold winter night but light enough in body to sip all year round. Pair with barbecue ribs or a wiener schnitzel. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

Calcareous limestone with sand. No herbicides (only manual) and they only use a minimal amount of copper and sulfur in the vineyard - aiming towards as minimal an environmental impact as possible. Fermented with skins for three weeks with remontage.  Aged in Slavonian botti of 10-20HL for 18 months followed by time in the bottle before release. No clarification or filtering before bottling. 

Expert Review

Wine Advocate 94 Points | Compared to the Rio Sordo, the Cascina delle Rose 2018 Barbaresco Tre Stelle is slightly more robust and open-knit. This wine shows a more overt concentration that comes across with blackberry and wild cherry. To the palate, it shows a smooth but nicely elaborate texture. There are light touches of crushed stone and even some tobacco on the close. 

Expert Reviews 

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Lastly, this estate fashioned a solid 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mohrhardt Ridge Vineyard, which comes from the Fort Ross-Seaview appellation, and you don’t see many Bordeaux varieties from this region. This inky-hued beauty offers lots of cassis and blueberry fruit as well as sappy green herbs, tobacco, and subtle cedar-like aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied and has ripe, building tannins, good overall balance, and a solid finish. It will benefit from another year or three of bottle age and should drink nicely for a solid decade. (2018). 

James Suckling 93 Points | Aromas of plump red and black fruit. Full-bodied with structured tannins and rich, opulent dark fruit. Chocolate and spice on the palate. Smoke and ash at the finish. Very tasty. Drink now or hold. (2018). 

Vinous 94 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mohrhardt Ridge Vineyard is another super-distinctive wine in this range. A Cabernet of tremendous character and nuance, the Mohrhardt speaks with distinction. Rich, red berry fruit, rose petal, mint, spice and cedar infuse the Cabernet with striking inner sweetness and perfume. The 2019 feels unctuous and luxurious in the glass, and yet it has plenty of mountain savoriness. The Cabernet has so much sheer personality.  -- Antonio Galloni  (2018). 

Darioush · CARAVAN Cabernet Sauvignon · Napa Valley · 2020

Darioush's Napa Valley story is rooted in Persian heritage and taarof, the art of gracious hospitality. Founder Darioush Khaledi and his wife, Shahpar, brought that vision to California, establishing a winery with sites spanning Mount Veeder, Oak Knoll and the maritime-influenced valley floor.

The 2020 CARAVAN Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and concentrated yet well structured, with the balance and appetizing mouthfeel.

Red and black cherries mingle with cinnamon, cedar and toasted oak, offering layers of fruit and warm spice for a thoughtfully prepared dinner.

Expert Review · 2020 Vintage

Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points: Very rich and concentrated but also well structured, this wine achieves good balance and an appetizing mouthfeel. Red and black cherries, cinnamon, cedar and toasted oak all contribute to its tasty flavor complexity.

Producer Story

Darioush is a story of the harmonious blending of traditions - a culture of graciousness and thoughtfulness and one rooted in the ideals of individualism and opportunity.

Uniquely shaped by a harmonious blending of traditions, our vision is rooted in taarof, the Persian art of gracious hospitality, and culminates in a worldly escape that transcends the comforts of home.

Our story began centuries ago in the Zagros Mountains, where Persian communities brought winecraft to life as early as 5000 BCE. Hailing from the foothills of those mountains, our founder Darioush Khaledi grew up immersed in the ancestral winemaking culture of Shiraz, the fabled city of gardens and poetry. The Darioush legacy stems from this foundational intersection of viticulture, hospitality, cuisine, and art.

Inspired by his heritage and fueled by his entrepreneurial spirit, Darioush set out to California, where he and his wife, Shahpar, realized their dream of opening a boutique winery. The Khaledis ventured into the unexplored territory of the southern Napa Valley, selecting sites that span three distinct AVAs—high atop Mount Veeder, nestled in a pocket of Oak Knoll, and down in the maritime-influenced floor of the valley. In the years since, Darioush’s continued investment has empowered the craftsmanship of intriguing wines that delight guests known and new—a commitment that still guides us today.

Pairing Suggestions

Try with grilled steak, slow-braised beef, roast lamb or mushroom dishes. Its cherry fruit and cedar-spice character also make an inviting partner for aged hard cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: Darioush
• Wine: CARAVAN Cabernet Sauvignon
• Region: Napa Valley, California, United States
• Vintage: 2020
• Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Size: 750ml
• Review: Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points

Winemaker Description

This wine is intense ruby red in colour with youthful highlights. On the nose, there are notes of almonds, violets and oranges which are intertwined with aromas of coffee and vanilla. It is a full-bodied wine with well-balanced acidity.

The rounded tannins from the Sangiovese are lifted by the cassis concentration of the Cabernet on the long, concentrated finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017 

James Suckling 93 Points |  Blueberries and blackcurrants with bark and licorice. Full body and round, chewy tannins. This is very fresh and bright with some sage and stone character. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to soften. Drink after 2023.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2017 Ghiaie della Furba opens to a bouquet of minty herbs, camphor and smoke before deepening further to display dusty red currant and spice box. This is velvety and fleshy in feel, with stimulating acidity that enlivens its spicy black fruit and building mineral tones. It tapers off with persistence, power and grippy tannin, the perfect mix for a long evolution. The Ghiaie della Furba is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah and 20% Merlot that refines in barrique, half new and half second pass. It's important to note that production was down by 40% in 2017 due to trost.

Expert Review

Burghound 93 Points | Ultra-spicy red and black berry aromas combine with those of jasmine tea, violet, star anise and discreet oak. The succulent, rich and delicious flavors possess excellent volume and mid-palate density while exhibiting a subtle minerality on the firm, serious and built-to-age finale that also flashes a touch of warmth. This is terrific and in 2019 it is a bit more elegant than usual. 

Expert Review

Decanter 94 Points | Starts soft and gentle, then the sparkling, bright acidity spreads over the palate. Great purity, balance and roundness; very satisfying. A mix of 60-year-old and seven-year-old vines, vinified in oak. Drinking Window 2022 - 2030. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 95 Points | This has a rather reserved nose with dried-herb, rosehip, potpourri and light cedary aromas, ahead of fragrant dried cherries. The palate has quite dense and smoothly rendered, ripe tannins that deliver a long, composed and approachable Barolo. Drink or hold. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is no less impressive. Exhibiting aromas of plums, red berries and cassis mingled with orange rind, cinnamon, vanilla pod and spices, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, lively acids and a long, rose-inflected finish.

Barrel Sample: 95-97 Burghound 94 Points | This is aromatically similar to the Clos St. Denis but even more floral. Here too there is a wonderfully attractive mouthfeel on the powerful, muscular and dense broad-shouldered flavors that are also blessed with an abundance of dry extract that buffers the massively persistent finale. This terrific effort is a blend of power and refinement and a wine that should age accordingly. A "wow" wine and on the better wines of the vintage.

Barrel Sample: 94-97Decanter 97 Points | Complex and aromatically nuanced, showing well-developed plummy fruit, with accents of earth, leather, smoke and spice. The initial feel on the palate is tannic and concentrated, but the wine is still approachable and supple, with a lovely, long line to the lingering finish. Superb wine. Dujac owns nearly 2ha here, scattered across six parcels and five of the different lieux-dits, including the original Clos de la Roche, Les Froichots, Les Fremières, Monts Luisants and Les Chabiots, giving a balanced view of this grand cru. 

Winemaker Description

The Churchill flagship quinta has produced a serious style of Port. Dry and richly structured, it also has jammy red-berry fruits that will cushion the firmness.

Churchill’s purchased the estate of Quinta da Gricha in 1999, and it quickly formed the spiritual heart of the house, and is where all the wines are made today before being sent downriver for aging in Vila Nova de Gaia. Winemaker Description.

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | The Churchill flagship quinta has produced a serious style of Port. Dry and richly structured, it also has jammy red-berry fruits that will cushion the firmness. Drink the wine from 2029.

Winemaker Description

The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru soars from the glass with a captivating and beautifully integrated bouquet of exotic spices, rose petals, raspberries, cherries and blood orange mingled with notions of cinnamon and coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a deep and tightly coiled core that marks it out as the most muscular wine in the cellar, displaying considerable concentration and largely concealed structure. While this is a dramatic young La Tâche, there's evidently plenty held in reserve, too, and it simply has appreciably more presence than any of the other wines that preceded it in this tasting. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

This wine’s aroma has it all: plums, incense, tobacco leaf, violets, and exotic spices. Zero racking and extended lees contact has given the 2011 FUTO a satisfying balance of creamy richness and superb freshness. Generous and inviting flavors of black-skinned fruits, cappuccino, citrus and cloves work in harmony with the sweet tannin and well integrated oak. While texturally approachable now, the inner density and complexity of this wine will continue to unfold with cellar age.

Expert Reviews

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 97 Points: The 2011 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot. It offers sweet blackcurrant and blueberry fruit intermixed with hints of toast and white flowers, beautiful body and a savory personality. A top success for the vintage, it should drink well for 10-12 years.

Expert Review - Vintage 2017

Vinous 93 Points | The 2017 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, which is as usual, an exchange with Jean-Michel Chartron, has a crisp and precise bouquet with touches of yellow flower and crushed stone complementing the citrus fruit. The palate is very well balanced with beautifully integrated oak (one-year old rather than new), leading to a precise, almost Meursault-like finish. Superb. 

Winemaker Description 

It has a very detailed, slightly flinty, perhaps reserved bouquet that opens reluctantly in the glass. The palate is taut on the entry, hints of white chocolate infusing the citrus fruit, nicely balanced with a harmonious and elegant finish. 

Winemaker Description

An intense red-purple colour. Potent and elegant on the nose with a great complexity of aromas (jams, minerals, menthol, spices, wild herbs, toffee and cacao).

Great harmony in the mouth with very marked sweet tannins, very complex and full of flavours of black fruits, raisins, liquorice, coffee, ink and aromatic herbs. Persistent lingering finish. Excellent wine for aging.

Expert Reviews

Burghound Allen Meadows 95 Points | A subtle touch of wood serves as a suitably discreet backdrop for the exceptionally floral-infused and perfumed nose that offers up additional notes of spice, red currant and pekoe tea. The round, refined and lilting if impressively intense flavors are blessed with excellent punch and power while exhibiting a lovely salinity on the built-to-age finish. This refined effort is very classy, indeed the word Zen comes up mind.

Neal Martin of Vinous 95 Points | The 2016 La Grande Rue Grand Cru has a very pure, almost pastille-like bouquet with copious red cherry fruit mixed with crushed strawberry and a little cassis. La Grande Rue? [Post script: Bingo!] The palate is very pretty with fine-grain tannin. This is surfeit with freshness and vitality, although it does not quite have the depth and structure of other Grand Crus from the appellation. It does fan out towards the finish. The persistence, and the saline aftertaste are very appealing. Excellent. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

Jasper Morris 94-97 Points | A little more density to the colour. Impressive intensity of floral notes, even some slightly darker fruit notes for a change. Fine density to this, as discreet as you want up front, but nonetheless more detail than the earlier wines, very silky texture across the middle, not an extra burst of intensity but still a thread of velvet which endures for much longer. Red fruits, not quite the blood orange I have noted in some vintages, and certainly the exquisite elegance that Nicole is searching for. Very classy, is it quite intense enough? The little traces of acidity are entirely woven in, a faint sign of whole bunch in the final texture. Fruit comes back behind. You could miss the point of this or adore it. Tasted: October 2017

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Burghound 92 Points | A much earthier, riper and more deeply pitched nose speaks of black cherry, cassis and humus nuances. There is strikingly good volume and mid-palate concentration to the dense, serious and powerful flavors that conclude in an austere, balanced, very compact and sneaky long finish. This is a big Clos de Vougeot that isn't particularly refined, but it is undeniably impressive.

Decanter 93 Points | In a warm, dry year like 2019, the results are delightful, with bright red fruits and a silky, subtle texture. Lighter than the offerings from Vosne but also very worthy.

Winemaker Description

Black fruits, leathers, licorice, aromas of roasting and oriental spices. Notes of eucalyptus. Very powerful aromatic intensity. A lot of richness and structure on the palate. Very strong expression of the terroir which expresses itself by the elegance and the power of its tannins.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is intense, as dense ganache, espresso, roasted juniper and alder notes form an impressive frame around an equally ornate core of steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors, all while maintaining terrific cut and drive despite the heft. A mouthwatering iron accent at the very end seals the deal. Best from 2020 through 2040.

Wine Advocate 97 Points | This was another excellent showing for the 2013 Hermitage Ex Voto and this elegant, medium to full-bodied release offers straight-up textbook notes of crème de cassis, vanilla bean, crushed rocks, graphite and spice. It lacks the mid-palate density of the 2009 and 2010, but is impeccably balanced, elegant, and offers considerable charm. Range:94-97

James Suckling 94 Points | A big, bold dark plum, chocolate and roasted coffee nose with dark stones and a swathe of fragrant baking spices. The palate has a succulent and powerful feel. Dark ripe cherry fruits and toasty oak are well matched. Drink now.

Vinous 94 Points | (aged in new oak for 40 months) Glass-staining ruby. Deep-pitched cassis, cherry liqueur, incense and candied violet scents, along with hints of olive paste and Moroccan spices. Sweet, broad and energetic on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors underscored by an intense mineral quality. Unfolds very slowly with air and finishes impressively long, featuring youthful tannins and outstanding energy.  Drinking 2023 - 2033. -- Josh Raynolds.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2011 

Wine Spectator 96 Points | Very dense, dark and brooding in feel, with a thick coating of Turkish coffee and bittersweet ganache over the copious blackberry and fig flavors. The long finish is studded with charcoal and smoldering tobacco hints. Patience is required. Best from 2018 through 2030. From France.

Wine Advocate 98 Points | Starting out the single vineyards and bottled in February (after over four years in new oak barrels), the 2011 Cote Rotie la Mouline is as slutty, sexy and seamless as they come. Full-bodied, thrillingly concentrated and unctuous, it offers classic Mouline notes of cured meats, violets, black raspberries, espresso and hints of vanilla bean. Philippe Guigal commented that the worst thing about 2011 was the it came after 2010, and while the previous two vintages will get all of the attention, this 2011 will deliver almost as much pleasure, and do it right from the start as well. It needs 3-4 years of cellaring and will drink sensationally through 2041.

Vinous 96 Points | (aged in new oak barriques for 42 months): Deep ruby. Sexy mineral- and spice-laced black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastille aromas are complemented by notes of Asian spices, cola and smoky oak. Spicy and precise on the palate, offering vibrant, spice-accented red and dark berry and cola flavors and an undercurrent of smoky minerality. Fine-grained tannins sneak in very slowly and meld seamlessly with the energetic fruit. Clings with fantastic tenacity and focus, leaving behind vibrant spice, berry liqueur and mineral notes.

Expert Review 

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | This delicately perfumed wine opens to reveal power combined with elegance. The wine has great ripeness—a soft texture on the surface masking the severe tannins at the center.

Winemaker Description 

A fragrant aroma of well ripened fruit; supple and polished tannins give structure and length on the palate, with a rich sweet flavour and crisp mineral freshness. Herbal and dark fruit notes on the aftertaste. Winemaker Description.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

Wine Spectator 98 Points | A thunderhead of dark ganache and espresso notes slowly rolls through, while fig paste, melted licorice, warm plum and blackberry compote flavors follow. A massive beam of graphite drives the finish to a crescendo, with the fruit echoing. 

Wine Advocate 95+ Points | La Landonne is never destemmed and is always the last of the single-vineyard wines to be picked. Philippe Guigal calls it “the most Pauillac of the Cote Roties,” and the 2013 Cote Rotie La Landonne bears that out. It’s slightly austere and firmly tannic, with attractive floral aromas and layers of dark fruit that will require time to fully emerge.

James Suckling 97 Points | The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more.