90 + Points | Critical Acclaim

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2023

James Suckling 97 Points | Rich, powerful and gorgeous, drenched in fruity, savory, mushroomy flavors on a full body and super-smooth tannins. Deep black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and pine character that expands on the palate and lingers on the finish. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Deeper and more layered, with notes of pine, sage, ripe cherries, fresh leather, and pressed floral perfume. Refined and plush texture with ripe tannins and elegant notes of dark earth. Drink 2025–2040.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Precise and vibrant, with sleek cherry and raspberry highlighted by stony mineral and black tea accents. Gathers richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2034.

About the Wine

Cuvée Laurène is the flagship Pinot Noir of Domaine Drouhin Oregon — the Willamette Valley estate founded by Burgundy’s legendary Maison Joseph Drouhin. Named after Véronique Drouhin’s daughter, this 100% estate wine is sourced from the Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills, two of the valley’s most exciting sub-appellations.

The vines are planted at high Burgundian density, forcing competition for nutrients and producing small, intensely concentrated berries. The estate’s famous Jory soil (red volcanic clay) gives the wine its signature red-fruit profile and silky, elegant texture.

Tasting & Pairings

Black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, pine, sage, mushroom, leather, and dark earth. Full-bodied yet super-smooth with refined tannins and extraordinary length. Decant or cellar through 2040.

• Roasted duck breast with cherry reduction — the wine’s dark fruit and savory depth are a perfect match.
• Wild mushroom risotto or truffle dishes — the mushroomy, earthy character is built for umami.
• Rack of lamb with herbs de Provence — the cedar and pine notes complement herbed meats beautifully.

Expert Review

Domaine du Vieux Lazaret · Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge · Southern Rhône · France · 2023

Domaine du Vieux Lazaret has been rooted in the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape since the 18th century — one of the appellation’s most enduring estates, blending traditional methods with a modern sensibility to produce wines of genuine elegance and accessibility. The Rouge is a multi-varietal blend in the classic Châteauneuf tradition — Grenache-led, with Cinsault, Counoise, Syrah, Muscardin, Terret Noir, and Vaccarese — crafted for immediate pleasure while retaining the structure to age gracefully. The 2023 earned 92 points from Wine Spectator and 90 from James Suckling.

The 2023 pours deep ruby with a bouquet rich in aromatic fruit and earthy complexity. High-toned notes of cherry and anise are silky and fluid — a modern Châteauneuf with no rough edges. On the palate, ripe cherry, red berries, black plum, and sweet spices are supported by polished, plush tannins. Rooibos tea and sandalwood smoke add layers of complexity, while the full-bodied, elegantly layered finish showcases real sleekness and length. Serve at 16–18°C.

Expert Reviews

“High-toned notes of cherry and anise are silky and fluid in this modern Châteauneuf. There are no rough edges here. Polished tannins glide through, supporting rooibos tea and sandalwood smoke elements. A pretty, sleek style, with real elegance.”
— Wine Spectator · 92 Points

“A textured, generous and dense red with sweet cherries, red berries and sweet spices on the nose. Full-bodied with plush tannins. Rich core of berries and cherries with a similar finish.”
— James Suckling · 90 Points

• Producer: Domaine du Vieux Lazaret, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Blend: Grenache, Cinsault, Counoise, Syrah, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Vaccarese
• Style: Dry red — modern, polished, full-bodied
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Cherry, anise, red berries, black plum, sweet spice, rooibos tea, sandalwood smoke, polished tannins
• Serve: 16–18°C · Drink now through 2030+
• Pairings: Grilled lamb, roasted meats, wild game, meat dishes in sauce, aged Gruyère or Comté, hearty stews

WS:92 · JS:90 · Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC — 18th-century estate, modern elegance. Silky, polished, and built for the table.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Distinctive in a very good way, this chooses savory elegance over power. A refreshing and mineral-driven style, with appealing pepper, spice box and chestnut, all surrounding a core of red currant threaded with a stream of herbs. With warm earth on the seductively textured palate, this shows good energy and harmony through the vibrant finish, marked by iron and smoked meat. Well-done. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 2,464 cases imported.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme kicks off with crushed violets, ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and a pinch of dried herbs. Leafy gradations add more complexity. Round and elegant, the full-bodied 2022 walks off the stage with persistence on the juicy finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | The only wine produced in the vintage due to the devastating tornado just before the harvest, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme seems to be a mix of a normal Vieux Télégraphe and a Télégramme. Black raspberries, darker cherries, peppery garrigue, and a Grand Vin sense of salty minerality define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, has rock-solid ripeness, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | A blend of 85% Grenache and the rest of Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme offers up aromas of flowers, dark cherries and dark wild berries, followed by a medium to full-bodied, structured and concentrated palate with velvety tannins and a long, dense finish.

James Suckling 92 Points | An elegant expression of grenache in Chateauneuf, this has a wealth of red berries and summer flowers. The very solid tannins have been expertly crafted, and they build beautifully in the long finish. Considering how the vineyards were hit by hail just before the harvest, this has turned out very well. 

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. 

Expert Review -  Vintage 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Burghoud Allen Meadows 93-96 Points | An expressive, ripe and airy nose features the relatively primary essence of plum liqueur, kirsch, spice and earth notes. The strikingly intense and sleek larger-bodied flavors possess only average concentration yet there is impressive power on the moderately austere and beautifully long finish that tightens up noticeable as it sits on the palate. I suspect that this will flesh out and add richness with time in bottle though like several wines in the range, this is going to require extended patience.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | The 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts opens in the glass with notes of plums and wild berries mingled with aromas of orange oil, exotic spices, smoked duck and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, layered and muscular, it's finer-boned and less overtly powerful than its 2019 and 2018 predecessors, even if it's still a serious, structured, concentrated wine.

Barrel Sample: 93-95 Burghound 93 Points | This is the first wine to show any appreciable reduction though the whole cluster vinification does peek through the funk. Once again, the bigger-bodied and much more muscular flavors possess a highly attractive texture thanks to the generous dry extract that partially buffers the prominent tannic spine supporting the robust, powerful and gorgeously complex and persistent finish. This is a classic Malconsorts which is very much built to reward longer-term cellaring.

Barrel Sample: 93-95 Decanter 96 Points | A dense, almost creamy, concentrated cassis fruit, adorned with notes of smoke, spice and salt. Focused, with plenty of tannin and extract, this is a wonderful wine. 2020 saw tiny yields from Dujac's 1.55ha in Malconsorts - no more than 10-15 hl/ha. The fruit was partially destemmed and fermented slowly prior to ageing. The wine gets the same 16 months in 70% new casks that the grand crus receive. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

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

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

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

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

La Framboisière has been one of Domaine Faiveley's monopoles since 1933, producing wines of remarkable character: intense red fruit aromas, pleasant minerality, and a silky elegance that reflects the soul of Mercurey. The estate's vat house is named after this iconic parcel, a testament to its enduring importance.

Vineyard
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vines Planted: 1962, 1978, 1981
Total Area: 10.61 ha
Exposure: South-East
Soil: Clay-limestone
Viticulture: Undergoing Organic Conversion

Vinification
Fermentation: Partial whole cluster with twice-daily pumpovers; 15–19 day vatting
Aging: 12 months in French oak, 10% new
Fining & Filtration: Unfined; light lenticular filtration
Alcohol: 13%

Tasting Notes
Old vines over thirty years of age yield an exceptionally aromatic wine. The nose opens with pretty, airy notes of redcurrant and raspberry. On the palate, a smooth, fruity attack evolves toward ripe red berries, orange rind, and a touch of allspice, with silky tannins and a fresh, lively finish.

Vinous 89 

Expert Review

Burghound | Note: from 3 different parcels measuring 1.36 ha, two at the bottom in Baudes Basses and another at the top in Montiotes Hautes Moderate reduction dominates the fruit though there is a lovely sense of underlying tension and freshness to the succulent, palate coating and powerful medium weight flavors that also conclude in a chalky, sappy and lingering finale. This is also going to need at least some patience as it's presently quite tightly wound.

Expert Review

Vinous 94 Points | This perfumed beauty displays fireworks in a glass with its kaleidoscopic nose of super spicy, floral and cool red and dark berry nose. The middle weight flavors are less concentrated and powerful than those of the Grands Ech but markedly finer with a caressing and sophisticated mouthfeel that carries over to the rich finish that once again tightens up noticeably on the impeccably well-balanced and strikingly persistent finish. While at least some patience will also be required this classy effort should be approachable sooner than the Grands Ech. 

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 Review

Vinous 93 Points | The 2021 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru, of which half comprises fruit from the Chapelots climat, has a delightful oyster shell-infused bouquet that blossoms in the glass – citrus peel intermixed with orange zest. The palate is very well-balanced, with a little more weight and concentration than the Butteaux. It is taut and linear, with a lick of salinity on the finish. Excellent. 

Domaine Georges Lignier Chambolle-Musigny — Burgundy 2022

Domaine Georges Lignier’s Chambolle-Musigny is one of the quiet gems of the Côte de Nuits — and the 2022 vintage may be its finest expression yet. Sourced from a prime 0.71-hectare parcel of 70-year-old vines straddling the “Les Drazey” and “Les Bussières” vineyards, just below the Premier Cru “Les Sentiers” and adjacent to the Bonnes Mares grand cru, this is village Burgundy that performs well above its appellation. Matured in small oak barrels — none new — to preserve the purity and transparency of the Pinot Noir. James Suckling awarded it 93 points, calling it “a very charming Chambolle-Musigny village wine with a lot of floral finesse.”

The nose is classically Chambolle: red flowers, ripe cherry, wild raspberry, and a whisper of forest floor. On the palate, it is sweet and silky — warm, powdery tannins deftly supporting a long, polished finish with remarkable depth for a village-level wine. The ancient vines and ideal location produce a complexity that elevates this far beyond what one would expect from a Villages bottling.

James Suckling 93 — “Sweet and silky, this is a very charming Chambolle-Musigny village wine with a lot of floral finesse, the warm, powdery tannins deftly supporting the long, polished finish.”

• Producer: Domaine Georges Lignier, Morey-Saint-Denis, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Chambolle-Musigny AOC
• Vineyards: Les Drazey & Les Bussières — 0.71ha, 70-year-old vines, red soil
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vinification: Aged in small oak barrels, no new oak
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red flowers, cherry, wild raspberry, forest floor, silky tannins, long polished finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 8–12 years
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, mushroom risotto, lamb chops, aged Comté, rabbit in mustard sauce

Silky, floral, and unmistakably Chambolle — Domaine Georges Lignier’s village bottling is the benchmark for what old-vine Burgundy can deliver at this level.

Gigondas Redefined — Pure Grenache Mastery from Gour de Chaule

Domaine Gour de Chaule is one of Gigondas's most exciting estates, and Le Gour is their most singular expression: a 100% Grenache from 80-year-old vines that challenges everything you think you know about southern Rhône reds. Where most Gigondas leans into power and density, Le Gour goes the other direction — floral, transparent, and ethereal, with a silky precision that is closer to great Burgundy than to the typical Grenache archetype. The 2022 vintage is a stunning achievement, earning some of the highest scores ever given to this appellation.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

• James Suckling — 97 pts: "A superb wine made exclusively from Grenache from 80-year-old vines, silky and ethereal. The nose is seductive, with crushed wild strawberries, bitter oranges, roses and some peppercorns. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. Such finesse of texture, with a silky core of bright, transparent and succulent berries. Tension and vibrancy with an infused character. Intense while being restrained and always in control. Long finish. Drink or hold."
• Vinous (Nicolas Greinacher) — 93-95 pts: "The captivating Grenache-only 2022 Gigondas Le Gour is sexy and layered. Pronounced rose petal, crushed violet, orange blossom, quince and raspberry aromas rise up from the glass. The floral lift is just stunning. Despite its medium to full body, this athletic 2022 red offers a seamless mouthfeel and is wonderfully light on its feet. Drinking 2025 to 2032."

Winemaker Notes

Domaine Gour de Chaule Gigondas .7 Le Gour 100% Grenache 2022 750ml

Le Gour is sourced exclusively from a single parcel of 80-year-old Grenache vines in Gigondas. The age of the vines brings extraordinary concentration and complexity, while the estate's careful winemaking preserves the natural floral lift and transparency that make this wine so distinctive. The result is a Gigondas of rare elegance — athletic, seamless, and built to evolve through 2032 and beyond.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Grenache (100%)
• Appellation: Gigondas AOC, Southern Rhône
• Producer: Domaine Gour de Chaule
• Vintage: 2022
• Vine Age: 80 years
• Drinking Window: 2025–2032
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A wine of rare versatility and elegance — exceptional with roasted lamb, duck confit, wild mushroom dishes, herb-crusted rack of lamb, aged Comté, and Provençal cuisine.

67Wine Buyer's Note

Bart Hopkins, 67Wine
Stephanie Fumoso is the great-granddaughter of Eugène Bonfils, who founded Domaine Gour de Chaulé in 1900. The estate has 10 hectares in the village of Gigondas, planted mainly to Grenache with small percentages of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. The 2022 Cuvée Tradition is a pure expression of this beautiful part of the Southern Rhône — juicy, herb-infused strawberry fruit on the nose accented with crushed pepper and savory spices. Energetic and lively in the mouth, with a gentle grip of tannins and a lick of acidity on the long, elegant finish. Well balanced and perfectly suited to the dinner table — serve with braised meats, roasted vegetables, and hearty Mediterranean dishes.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2022

James Suckling — 93 Points
"A refined, chiseled and bright red based mostly on Grenache with the addition of Syrah and Mourvèdre. The nose is precise and charming, with notes of wild strawberries, dried flowers, wet stones, and baking spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Fresh and well-balanced. Beautiful volume. Silky texture with a purity of fruit and a harmonious finish. Drink or hold."

Vinous — 93 Points
"The full-bodied 2022 Gigondas Cuvée Tradition 1871 is a total delight. Succulent red fruits mingle with floral tones and a pinch of dried herbs. Smooth tannins and bright acidity neatly structure this silky-textured Gigondas, which culminates with a concentrated, sapid finish. Give it two more years in bottle to develop even more complexity."

About the Vineyard

Several important vineyard sites form this Gigondas, including Gour de Chaulé, Les Blaches, and Les Bousquets. The Grenache vines average well over a half century in age, contributing the concentration and complexity that defines this cuvée.

Product Details

• Producer: Domaine Gour de Chaulé
• Region: Gigondas AOC, Southern Rhône, France
• Blend: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
• Vine Age: 50+ years
• Vintage: 2022
• Style: Full-bodied, structured Southern Rhône red
• Format: 750ml

Only 120 cases imported to the United States

Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott Condrieu 2022 is an elegant and beautifully expressive Viognier from one of the Northern Rhône's most celebrated white wine appellations. Rich and aromatic yet remarkably fresh, it combines the lush fruit and floral character of Condrieu with the mineral precision and energy that define Graeme and Julie Bott's style.

The wine comes from approximately 25-year-old Viognier vines planted on the steep granite soils of Condrieu. These demanding hillside vineyards naturally produce small yields, helping to create a wine with concentration, depth and a strong sense of place.

Expert Reviews

93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2022 Condrieu from Graeme & Julie Bott is a lovely classic in the making, unfurling in the glass with aromas of spring blossoms, white fruits, flowers, apricots and honeysuckles mingled with delicate spicy notes. Bright and vibrant, it's medium to full-bodied, enrobing and precise with a sappy, charming mid-palate that segues into a sappy, delicately phenolic finish. Made from purchased grapes, fermented in barrels and matured for nine months in large barrels, this is a strong effort.

93 Wine Spectator: A floral, bright and expressive white, with elderflower and white peach flavors shored up with crushed flint minerality, fresh-cut chive notes and zippy acidity. Lacy in feel, showing terrific purity throughout and ending with a clean finish. Drink now through 2025. 375 cases made, 120 cases imported.

92 James Suckling: A fruity nose with fresh pears, green apples, fresh apricots, herbs and mild spices. It’s medium-bodied with a caressing texture. Well-balanced with a spicy and mineral edge. Precise with a succulent finish. Drink or hold.

91 Jeb Dunnuck: A clean, classy, medium-bodied effort from this estate, the 2022 Condrieu has textbook tart apricot and orange blossom-like fruit as well as some spicy, mineral nuances. I love its balance, and it has good acidity and a great finish. It's going to shine on the dinner table.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted in the vineyard before being whole-bunch pressed. After cold settling, fermentation takes place in barrel, followed by approximately 10 months of aging in French oak barrels before bottling. Production is extremely limited, at approximately 2,000 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Golden in color with pale yellow highlights, the 2022 Condrieu opens with expressive aromas of ripe peach, apricot and fresh yellow fruits accented by delicate white flowers and subtle violet notes. The palate is rich, concentrated and silky, yet beautifully balanced by freshness, mineral tension and a subtle saline character.

Despite its generous texture, the wine remains bright and energetic throughout, finishing long and precise with a delicate savory bitterness that brings definition and balance to the ripe Viognier fruit.

About Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott

Graeme and Julie Bott met while working at the renowned Northern Rhône domaine of Stéphane Ogier before establishing their own estate. Their vineyards are centered around the Northern Rhône, where they focus on expressive, pure wines that emphasize freshness and the distinctive character of their hillside terroirs.

Food Pairing

A beautiful match for rich and creamy dishes. Pair with vegetable risotto, roast or poached poultry with cream sauce, foie gras, or other dishes where the wine's generous texture can complement richness while its freshness keeps the pairing lively and balanced.

Wine Details

• Producer: Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott
• Vintage: 2022
• Country: France
• Region: Northern Rhône
• Appellation: Condrieu AOC
• Grape: 100% Viognier
• Soil: Granite
• Vine Age: Approximately 25 years
• Harvest: Hand harvested
• Vinification: Whole-bunch pressed; barrel fermented
• Aging: Approximately 10 months in French oak barrels
• Production: Approximately 2,000 bottles
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott Côte-Rôtie 2020 is a beautifully expressive Northern Rhône Syrah that combines the power and savory complexity of Côte-Rôtie with the domaine's signature elegance and finesse. Produced in extremely limited quantities, this is a refined, age-worthy wine with dark fruit, floral perfume, spice and beautifully polished tannins.

The fruit comes from approximately 40-year-old Syrah vines planted on the schist soils of the Côte Brune in Ampuis. These steep, rocky vineyards are at the heart of Côte-Rôtie and give the wine remarkable intensity, structure and mineral character.

Expert Ratings

94 Points — Vinous

Glistening ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, violet, smoky bacon and exotic spices. Densely packed and subtly chewy in texture, offering appealingly sweet, spice-tinged red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors that are supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. The mineral note returns on a very long, penetrating finish that features polished tannins and resonating florality.

93 Points — Wine Spectator

Shows seductive violet, crushed plum and spice notes that mingle on the palate, grounded by balsamic and olive tapenade. The dry finish, with power that builds, is marked with a dusting of white pepper. Drink now through 2030.

93 Points — James Suckling

Dark cherries, plums, black olives, grilled meat, earth and cloves on the nose. Medium to full body with fine tannins. Serious and well-balanced with a restrained power and a lively finish with excellent length.

92 Points — Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2020 Côte Rôtie, another terrific effort here. Giving up lots of ripe black and blue fruits as well as spring flowers and bouquet garni-like notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, has ripe, sweet tannins, and a great finish.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted both in the vineyard and again upon arrival at the winery. Approximately 80% of the fruit is destemmed before a cold maceration in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation begins naturally with indigenous yeasts, followed by 18 months of aging in French oak barrels.

Production is exceptionally small, at approximately 1,200 bottles, making this a particularly limited expression of Côte-Rôtie.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby with violet reflections, the 2020 Côte-Rôtie offers an expressive aromatic profile of ripe blackberry, dark cherry and plum layered with violet, cracked pepper and savory spice. Subtle notes of olive, smoked meat and earthy minerality add classic Northern Rhône complexity.

The palate is full and concentrated yet remarkably supple, with ripe dark fruit framed by firm, silky tannins and fresh acidity. Peppery spice and mineral notes carry through the long, elegant finish, giving the wine both immediate appeal and excellent potential for further development in the cellar.

About Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott

Graeme and Julie Bott met while working at the renowned Northern Rhône estate of Stéphane Ogier before establishing their own domaine. Beginning with a small cellar in their garage, they gradually planted vineyards in Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Seyssuel.

Today, working from their cellar in Ampuis, their philosophy centers on allowing the Northern Rhône's schist and granite terroirs to speak clearly through the wines. Production remains deliberately small, with an emphasis on balance, purity and finesse.

Food Pairing

An excellent partner for grilled or roasted beef, ribeye steak, rack of lamb, braised lamb, duck and slow-cooked game. Its savory, peppery character also pairs beautifully with mushrooms, lentils, roasted root vegetables and dishes featuring rosemary, thyme or black pepper.

Wine Details

• Producer: Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott
• Vintage: 2020
• Country: France
• Region: Northern Rhône
• Appellation: Côte-Rôtie AOC
• Vineyard Location: Ampuis, Côte Brune
• Grape: Syrah
• Vine Age: Approximately 40 years
• Soil: Schist
• Harvest: Hand harvested
• Vinification: Approximately 80% destemmed; indigenous yeast fermentation
• Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels
• Alcohol: 13%
• Production: Approximately 1,200 bottles
• Bottle Size: 750ml

A distinctive Premier Cru white Burgundy from Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils, this wine is produced from Chardonnay grown in the Beaune Premier Cru vineyard of Champs-Pimont. Introduced by the estate with the 2021 vintage, the cuvée is made from grapes carefully selected during harvest.

The vineyard’s chalky, limestone-rich soil gives the wine its characteristic mineral and saline expression. Its eastern exposure encourages freshness, while its position at mid-slope provides balance, concentration and structure. The vines are approximately 40 years old, contributing additional depth and complexity.

The 2023 vintage offers elegant aromas of lemon-lime, freshly sliced apple and delicate floral notes. The palate is beautifully textured and concentrated, with bright acidity and subtle mineral tension. A bone-dry finish brings together citrus zest, saline freshness and a lightly bitter note that adds definition and length.

Refined and energetic, this is a precise expression of Chardonnay from the Côte de Beaune, combining generous texture with freshness, minerality and excellent aging potential.

Critical Acclaim

Allen Meadows, Burghound: 88–91 Points “More elegant and slightly fresher aromas include those of lemon-lime, just sliced apple and a variety of floral wisps. There is again a lovely texture and even better volume to the more concentrated flavors that exude a subtle minerality on the bone-dry finale that also flashes a bitter zest character.”

Serving and Pairing

Serve lightly chilled with scallops, lobster, grilled or roasted fish, poultry in a cream sauce, mushroom risotto, vegetable dishes or soft and semi-firm cheeses. The wine may be enjoyed young for its freshness or carefully cellared to develop greater complexity.

Wine Details

Producer: Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils
Vintage: 2023
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Burgundy, Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Beaune Premier Cru
Vineyard: Champs-Pimont
Vineyard Classification: Premier Cru
Vine Age: Approximately 40 years
Exposure: East
Soil: Limestone, chalk and clay
Wine Type: Dry White Wine
Bottle Size: 750ml
Suggested Drinking Window: 5–8 years
Estimated Aging Potential: Up to 10 years under proper storage conditions

Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils Beaune Blanc Premier Cru Les Champs Pimonts 2023

A refined Premier Cru white Burgundy produced from Chardonnay grown in Les Champsgains, a well-exposed vineyard situated in the middle of the Chassagne-Montrachet hillside. Its eastern exposure and clay-limestone soils encourage excellent ripeness while preserving freshness, structure and mineral definition.

The 2023 vintage displays a bright golden color with green reflections. Floral aromas of honeysuckle, carnation and peony are joined by fresh apple, pear and citrus. The palate is rich and creamy, with concentrated orchard fruit, lively acidity and a finely chiseled mineral character.

Elegant yet intense, the wine finishes dry and persistent, with citrus zest, subtle herbal nuances and a restrained austerity that should soften and gain complexity with bottle age.

Critical Acclaim

Allen Meadows, Burghound: 88–91 Points “A more citrus-suffused nose freely reveals its combination of apple, pear and herbal tea nuances. There is outstanding intensity, if barely average density, to the utterly delicious flavors that conclude in a chiseled, moderately austere and impressively persistent finish that could also use more depth.”

Serving and Pairing

Serve lightly chilled with lobster, scallops, roasted fish, poultry in a cream sauce, mushroom risotto, creamy pasta dishes or soft and semi-firm cheeses. Enjoy for its youthful freshness or cellar carefully to allow greater depth and complexity to develop.

Wine Details

Producer: Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils
Vintage: 2023
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Burgundy, Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
Vineyard: Les Champsgains
Classification: Premier Cru
Vineyard Area: 0.404 hectares
Exposure: East
Soil: Clay and limestone
Vine Age: Approximately 40 years
Wine Type: Dry White Wine
Bottle Size: 750ml
Suggested Drinking Window: 5–8 years
Estimated Aging Potential: Up to 10 years under proper storage conditions

Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Champsgains 2023

95 Points Wine Spectator | This voluptuous, full-bodied, off-dry white shows a lot of power, offering round pear, mango and honeycomb flavors that take a salty turn on the palate, with brine, crushed flint and bitter almond skin, backed by a subtle hint of brioche on the finish. Opening up in the glass, this gorgeous wine offers loads of immediate charm, but should have a long life ahead in the cellar as well.

Taking its roots deep into the chalk soils of Vouvray, this off-dry wine resonates beautifully in the mouth. Its natural sugar and refreshing acidity blend harmoniously. Aerial and complex, this fruity wine is to be appreciated young, but can reveal itself graciously to the ones who wait. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu is a pure, refined, seamless style with pear, pineapple and nectarine flavors. It boasts excellent clarity and refinement, with lovely freshness hailing from calibrated acidity that bursts through this blossoming wine. Considering this was only bottled three weeks before tasting, I’m very encouraged by the results.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Fresh-crushed apple, quince and spice notes have an earthy dimension, with hints of roasted agave and wet soil. There's beautiful range and just enough plumpness to make this generous, yet it's held in check by a chalky mineral element and very fine tannins. Toasted almond and salted butter notes move in, with lime-edged acidity cleaning up the finish. Refined and complex. Drink now through 2037.

Winemaker Description 

The original Huët vineyard is nearly 9 hA. It has the richest soils of the domaine’s three crus - a deep limestone-clay - and the wines are generally the estate’s most approachable. In some vintages, small quantities from nearby estate parcels may be added to Le Haut-Lieu. Winemaker Description.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 95 Points | The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Mont is precise, upright and flinty. It's less immediately charming than the styles we've seen in recent warmer vintages, but it was only tasted three weeks after bottling—this is one to revisit. There's just the right amount of juicy, peachy flesh within this light-bodied yet concentrated wine. It has the potential to charm but does so without showing off. Flinty and tightly sewn together, it has curves in the right places, but you're just going to have to wait for it to take shape.

Winemaker Description 

Le Mont wines are often the estate's most reticent, but develop the strongest perfume with age. Mineral-driven with a crystalline purity, this is the precision we've come to rely on with Le Mont.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 96 Points -  #13 in Top 100 Wines of France, 2024 |  It’s hard to imagine a dessert wine that’s better balanced than this, because the acidity and richness seem to dance across your palate. It’s dense and complex, with myriad aromas of dried fruit, candied citrus, floral honey and fresh garden herbs, but the final impression is of incredible clarity and precision. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | Pouring a youthful yellow/golden hue, the 2023 Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont offers spicy notes of ginger, yellow flowers, poached golden apples, hay, and freshly rained-on asphalt. Medium-bodied, it excels and takes things to the next level with its texture, and its sweetness feels both luxurious and weightless. This exceptional offering has tremendous potential for aging and pairings. Drink over the coming 15 years or more.

Vinous Media 95 Points | The 2023 Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont is a ripe, round, serious, suit-wearing wine style that's upright and conservative. It’s sweet (74g/l) but never feels luscious, and yet there's a tropical character to the fruit that gives richness to this reserved style. The effect of the flint is clear in the 2023’s sense of freshness. It's textured, pure, balanced and harmonious.

Memo Summary Notes

Domaine Huet is the spiritual home of Chenin Blanc in Vouvray, and their "Le Mont" Moelleux 2023 is a masterclass in balance. While "Moelleux" denotes a sweet wine, Huet’s style is never syrupy; it relies on the electric acidity of the Chenin grape and the flinty "perron" soils of the Le Mont vineyard to create a wine that feels energetic and precise.

The 2023 vintage was a challenging but rewarding year. A rigorous selection process was required (rejecting 25% of the crop) to ensure only the cleanest, most concentrated fruit made it into the Moelleux bottlings.

Pair with 

he "Classic": Pan-seared foie gras with a quince reduction or a traditional Tarte Tatin.

Savory: Spicy Thai or Szechuan cuisine (the sugar tames the heat, while the acidity cleanses the palate).

Cheese: Matured Roquefort or a long-aged Comté.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Kristen Bieler writes:  For a demi-sec, this leans toward the dry, savory end of the spectrum. There are a lot of layers and substance to this, with a savory thread of green herbs and bitter white tea weaving through elderflower, quince and apple flavors, while gentle tannins provide a solid frame. Cool river stone and pink peppercorn notes line the finish, encased in smoke and salt, with length and a lot of depth. The toasty cedar notes will integrate with more time in bottle. Drink now through 2037. 740 cases made.  - Wine Spectator 93

Stuart Pigott Writes:  This off-dry Vouvray has terrific depth and a lovely creaminess that’s hard to resist, but it’s tightly wound and needs some time for the aromas to unfurl. With some aeration, red apple and honeysuckle notes emerge. Long, very clean finish that’s pretty dry thanks to the bright acidity. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  The 2023 Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont boasts a residual sweetness (20g/l) that brings a sense of tenderness and amplitude to a terroir that's big on precision and tension. The flint component in the soil and the natural freshness of the 2023 vintage provide persistence and momentum. Pure and tender, there’s a distinctive spearmint-like cooling sensation on the long finish.  Drinking 2024 to 2038.  - Vinous 94

Produced from 100% Chardonnay, this refined white Burgundy comes from Les Champs Gains, a highly regarded Premier Cru vineyard situated high on the slope above Les Folatières in Puligny-Montrachet. The vineyard’s name translates to “fields reclaimed from the forest,” reflecting land that was historically cleared for cultivation.

The elevated, cool site lies approximately 340 to 360 meters above sea level. Its stony clay-limestone soils contain abundant pebbles and relatively little clay, contributing freshness, vibrant acidity and a distinctly mineral character. The domaine’s mature vines bring added concentration, depth and complexity to the wine.

The 2023 vintage opens with fresh, bright aromas of orchard fruit, citrus and delicate white flowers. The palate is fine-boned, precise and tightly woven, offering lively citrus fruit, refreshing acidity and an elegant mineral core. Subtle toasted notes from restrained oak aging add complexity without obscuring the wine’s purity. The finish is long, balanced and beautifully focused, suggesting excellent potential for further development in the bottle.

Following whole-cluster pressing and a period of settling, fermentation takes place with natural yeasts. The wine is matured for approximately eleven months in barrel, including 25–30% new oak, followed by an additional period in stainless-steel tanks. Bâtonnage is avoided, helping preserve the wine’s freshness, clarity and individual expression of terroir.

The Chavy family has cultivated vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet for more than two centuries. Today, Jean-Louis Chavy and his son Paul continue the family’s six-generation tradition, producing Chardonnay recognized for its elegance, precision, balance and clear expression of Puligny-Montrachet’s limestone-rich soils.

• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Subregion: Côte de Beaune
• Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• Vineyard: Les Champs Gains
• Classification: Premier Cru
• Vine Age: Mature vines, approximately 40 to 50 years old
• Altitude: Approximately 340–360 meters
• Soil: Stony clay-limestone with abundant pebbles
• Vinification: Whole-cluster pressed and fermented with natural yeasts
• Aging: Approximately 11 months in barrel, including 25–30% new oak, followed by stainless-steel maturation
• Alcohol: Approximately 13%
• Style: Dry, floral, precise and mineral-driven white Burgundy
• Cellaring: Enjoyable young, with approximately 7–8 years of aging potential
• Serving Temperature: Approximately 50–55°F

Food Pairings: An elegant companion to oysters, scallops, lobster, grilled or roasted fish, roast chicken, veal, creamy mushroom dishes, Comté and other mild Alpine cheeses.

Domaine J-L & F Chavy Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Champs Gains 2023

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 94 Points  | The 2020 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru wafts from the glass with aromas of wild berries and plums mingled with peonies, orange rind and exotic spices. Full-bodied, rich and muscular, it's deep and powerful, with imposing reserves of concentration, while remaining vibrant, even fine-boned despite its substance and plenitude.

Burghound 95 Points | Markedly floral-suffused aromas are comprised by notes of more distinctly spiced and earthier plum and black cherry where a hint of the sauvage lurks in the background. The equally sleek though notably more voluminous and powerful if less mineral-driven flavors coat the palate with dry extract while offering excellent depth and persistence on the beautifully balanced finale. This is one of the best Mugnier Bonnes Mares in recent memory. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Burhound 92-94 Points | An elegant, pure and ultra-fresh nose offers up notes of lilac, rose petal, white peach, tea and citrus zest. There is a markedly more refined mouthfeel to the utterly delicious and highly seductive medium weight flavors that are more precise, all wrapped in a citrusy, impressively persistent and youthfully austere finale. This is very classy and I particularly like the underlying tension and balance that should also permit this beauty to age effortlessly over the next 12 to 15 years. In a word, excellent.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Burghound 93 Points | A more reserved if equally airy and elegant speaks more of acacia, green apple and zest, all of which is trimmed in enough wood to notice. Here too there is excellent volume and punch to the medium-bodied that flash noticeably more minerality on the beautifully persistent finish. Like the Pucelle, this possesses a simply gorgeous texture that can be replicated by no other commune in the Côte. It's worth pointing out that the Pucelle and Cailleret are quite similar qualitatively but they offer two very different expressions. Outstanding. ♥

Decanter 94 Points | Chartron’s Clos du Cailleret is a regal premier cru. This emblematic cuvée of the Chartron family is particularly successful in 2021, with exotic aromas of guava and pomelo, lemon, and spice. The texture is concentrated and rich, with no lack of acidity but an equally impressive richness in extract for balance. The vines come from the Chartron parcel of nearly a hectare at the northern end of the Clos. The grapes are lightly crushed and slowly pressed before fermentation in cask (25% new)—genuinely delicious wine. 

Winemaker Description 

Siituated just below premier cru Aux Argillas on the slope in northern Nuits-Saint-Georges, Les Bousselots provides an impressive showcase for the vigorous minerality typical of this village. Drag farms a half-hectare parcel of Bousselots that abuts the well-regarded premier cru Les Chaignots to its immediate north, and this bottling possesses a murmuring stony intensity which contrasts the often-floral character of its immediate neighbors. Notes of bright red fruits, warm leather, and dark dust orbit a core of iron-like mineral enormity, and its sinewy, densely concentrated palate promises plenty of positive evolution.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling writes 93 Points | Hardcore Nuits-Saint-Georges! This has a massive tannin structure, but also good concentration on the full-bodied palate. This has been made for the long term, but the spicy complexity is already exciting, a touch of charcoal character at the long, roasted-meat finish. Best after 2026.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is distinctly floral, with peach, lime blossom, citronella and mineral aromas and flavors. Sleek and elegant, offering intensity through the lingering aftertaste of lemon and orchard fruits. Shows terrific length and harmony. Best from 2026 through 2036. 30 cases imported.

Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py Organic — Beaujolais 2024

Jean Foillard is one of the founding members of Beaujolais’s legendary Gang of Four — alongside Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Guy Breton — the group of vignerons who, inspired by the teachings of Jules Chauvet, staged a quiet revolution against the industrial Beaujolais of the 1980s. Their manifesto: old vines, no synthetic herbicides or pesticides, late harvesting, rigorous sorting, minimal sulfur, no chaptalization, no filtration. The result is Morgon as it was always meant to be — structured, mineral, and age-worthy, with none of the bubblegum and banana aromas that plagued the region’s commercial wines. Jean and Agnès Foillard farm nearly 14 hectares, most of them on the Côte du Py — the famed granite and schist slope above Villié-Morgon that is the pride of the appellation. Vinous awarded the 2024 Côte du Py 92 points.

The nose is serious and mineral: earthy stone, plum, red and black fruit, and black tea leaves with crushed stone. On the palate, the wine is fresh and lively on entry, with a skip in its step — a Côte du Py with energy and precision, finishing with an assiduous sprinkle of white pepper and a long, harmonious close. Jean raises his wines in older Burgundy barrels, lending a velvety lushness that makes them irresistible young despite their considerable aging potential.

Vinous 92 — "A mélange of red and black fruit, black tea leaves and crushed stone. Fresh and lively on the entry, a Côte du Py with a skip in its step and an assiduous sprinkling of white pepper towards the harmonious finish." (Vintage 2024). 

• Producer: Domaine Jean Foillard, Villié-Morgon, Beaujolais, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Morgon, Beaujolais
• Vineyard: Côte du Py — granite and schist soils
• Varietal: 100% Gamay
• Farming: Certified Organic, no synthetic inputs, minimal sulfur, unfiltered
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Earthy stone, plum, red and black fruit, black tea, crushed stone, white pepper, velvety finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 5–10+ years
• Best Paired With: Roast chicken, duck confit, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, soft cheeses

A 92-point organic Morgon from one of Beaujolais’s most important estates — mineral, structured, and built to age.

Winemaker Description

Wife & Husband Winemaker 

The wine shows aromas and flavors of red berries, herbs, and purple flowers. The palate is rich with ripe fruit and medium weight with bright acidity and fine tannins. Aging in 40-70% new Burgundian pièce brings notes of vanilla, toast, and baking spices.

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. 

Expert Review

Burghound 93 Points | Here the less expressive nose flirts with reduction though a wisp of red berry fruit is discernible so I would suggest decanting this if you're game to try a bottle young. Otherwise the succulent and nicely rich flavors are blessed with abundant amounts of dry extract that coats the palate and buffers the moderately firm tannic spine on the youthfully austere and sneaky long finish.