90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wine & Sparkling Wine

 Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 97 Points | A superb and rich chardonnay with driven phenolics that frame the wine, giving it form and intensity. It’s full-bodied but not heavy. Dried apples, nuts, peach pie and hints of salted butter and honey. It’s flavorful and intense. Real Napa chardonnay. 70% Wente clone and the rest Calera. So drinkable now, but will age very well. 

Winemaker Description 

Delicate aromas of Bartlett pear and fresh-sliced pineapple are lifted by notes of jasmine and citrus zest, maturing into subtle warming tones of baking spices, brioche, and vanilla custard. On the palate, the flavors are intensely focused, yet the pleasant round body fills the mouth with a wide, elegant mid-palate. The salinity and minerality of this wine bring a refinement that is gently carried by bright, integrated acidity. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | The 2020 Tierra Alta A 2 Maderas was the producer’s old Crianza, but they are not using that anymore designation, and this youngest is its vintage in the market. With 15 months in French and American oak, it’s powerful and complex in dense black cherry, black licorice, and firm tannins, medium-bodied in style, with 10-15 years more to go. The texture is slate nearly, granitic, seasoned in dried herb.

Winemaker Description

Tierra Alta 2 Maderas de Bodegas Valduero is a serious Spanish red, made by one of the most recognized houses in Ribera del Duero. It stands out for a concentrated and elegant style, where the use of two types of wood seeks aromatic complexity and structure, respecting the fruity profile of the grape and the marked continental character of the area.

Color: Intense pecota red with high and bright layer violet trim, which reflects the typical concentration of the continental climate reds of the Castilian plateau. The tear is dense and leisurely, according to the structured style that characterizes Valduero and its aging wines in different types of wood.

Nose: Aromas of ripe black fruit, such as plums and blackberries, are combined with spicy notes and memories of cocoa and vanilla from the passage through two types of barrels. Balsamic nuances and a slightly torrefied background also arise, in the line of the reds of the Ribera del Duero made with a vocation of complexity and storage.

Mouth: Wide and enveloping entrance, with firm but polished tannins and an acidity that supports the whole well, reflecting the extreme climate of the region. The work in two woods brings volume, creamy touches and a long finish with memories of ripe fruit, sweet spices and a subtle smoked touch, very in keeping with the powerful and elegant style of Valduero.

Valduero has a clear purpose: to elaborate Reservas and Gran Reservas. Valduero 2 Maderas ages for three years. Intense, lively garnet with a high colored. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Valduero Tierra Alta en 2 Maderas 2020 is a powerhouse Tempranillo from one of Ribera del Duero's most respected family-owned estates. Formerly labeled simply as "Valduero Crianza," this wine is part of their "Tierra Alta" (Highlands) collection, sourced from vineyards at altitudes exceeding 800 meters.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2018

About the Producer

The Ronchi di Cialla winery sits within its own valley like something out of a fairy tale — roads curving through rows of vines planted between outcroppings of forest, with the family home and cellar perched at the top of a hill overlooking vineyards in all directions. Ivan Rapuzzi runs the winery with his mother and brother, following the same traditional methods as their father before them.

The Rapuzzi family saved Schioppettino from extinction, building a library of wines spanning decades that proves just how magnificently this variety matures. Today, Schioppettino has its own subzone within Friuli Colli Orientali — Schioppettino di Prepotto — while Ronchi di Cialla enjoys its own unique terroir within the Cialla Valley.

• Producer: Ronchi di Cialla
• Appellation: Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
• Varietal: Schioppettino
• Vintage: 2018
• Format: 750ml
• Style: Full-bodied, floral, spiced red
• Tasting Notes: Rose petals, violets, blackberry, blood orange, white pepper
• Aging Potential: Excellent — cellar worthy
• Pairings: Braised meats, game, aged cheeses, mushroom dishes

Winemaker Description

Incredibly rich amber colour with golden mahogany reflections, this 10-year-old Tawny emanates from the opening of the bottle a superb aromatic bouquet: with initial notes of almond, walnut, fig, dried fruit, currants, candied orange, then evolving for roasting and wood notes. In the mouth the same complexity, a rich, concentrated, deep structure supported by a magnificent acidity. It evolves with energy and firmness and as an exceptionally long finish. Winemaker Description.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | From old, field blend vineyards, this Port has a fine nutty character. It shares that with red fruits, gentle spice and a fine balance between sweetness and a drier core. This wine, rich and with toffee flavors, is ready to drink.

Winemaker Description

The soils are of marine origin from the Tertiary era, characterized by bluish marl (at a depth ranging from 1 to 3 meters), calcareous, compact structure. The stratification is dense and varied, rich in mineral salts and natural springs.

Barbaresco Rio Sordo receives careful grape selection in the vineyard – 100% Nebbiolo. The immediately noticeable characteristics are the considerable complexity and depth, accompanied by elegance and finesse.

Expert Review

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94+ Monica Larner | A release of about 3,000 bottles, the 2018 Barbaresco Rio Sordo shows the finesse and delicate fruit that is so well expressed by this estate. The bouquet is redolent of rose hip and crushed flowers, and you get cassis, wild cherry and dried pomegranate as well. There is a giant layer of minty herb, and then the wine finally relaxes with polished tones of crushed stone and white licorice. Cascina delle Rose makes a fine bottle of Barbaresco. 

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2021

Wine Advocate 94 Points: Pretty aromas of honey, allspice and roasted almonds complement a core of peach and quince fruit. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with a dynamic interplay of textural breadth and energetic acidity, offering layered flavors on the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: Refined and elegant, with notes of pure white flowers, lemon curd, and white peach. Medium to full-bodied with a silky mouthfeel driven by citrus — tangerine, orange sherbet — with great texture and a long, decadent finish.

Wine Spectator 91 Points: Polished and sleekly layered, with honeydew, pear and spice flavors that build structure toward the handsome finish. Drink now through 2026. 220 cases made.

Winemaker Description

Brick House Chardonnay Cascadia Organic Biodynamic 2021 750ml

Brick House’s “Cascadia” is the winery’s reserve-level Chardonnay — a highly regarded, estate-grown wine from Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA. Hand-crafted on a 40-acre farm that has been at the forefront of sustainable viticulture for decades, it is made with an Old World sensibility: organic and biodynamic farming, minimal intervention, and an unwavering focus on terroir expression. One of Oregon’s benchmark Chardonnays.

Pairing Suggestions

• Rich Seafood: Scallops in brown butter, roasted salmon, or halibut with lemon-cream sauce.
• Poultry: Roast chicken with herbes de Provence or pheasant.
• Earthy Dishes: Mushroom risotto, truffle pasta, or roasted root vegetables.

About This Wine — A Rare Expression of Nebbiolo

Rose delle Casasse is widely considered the only Barbaresco produced entirely from Nebbiolo Rosé — a grape that, while related to Nebbiolo, has been proven genetically distinct. As noted by ampelographer Ian d’Agata in his landmark book Native Wine Grapes of Italy, Nebbiolo Rosé is not simply a clone but its own variety, making this Riserva a genuinely singular wine in the Barbaresco appellation.

Cascina Baricchi is a small husband-and-wife estate in Neive, farming with deep respect for the land and producing wines of remarkable character and authenticity. The Rose delle Casasse vineyard gives a wine of uncommon delicacy and complexity — more aromatic and fine-boned than classic Nebbiolo, yet no less age-worthy.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2016

Vinous — 94 Points
"The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rose delle Casasse is a fine follow-up to the stellar 2015. A bit more austere than its older sibling, the 2016 presents a distinctly savory profile redolent of crushed flowers, herbs, mint, spice, leather and tobacco, while the fruit is pushed into the background. This is such a gorgeous wine."

Jeb Dunnuck — 93 Points
"Made entirely from the Rosé clone of Nebbiolo, this is fresh with wild raspberry, pine, and dark earth. Medium body and good concentration, with fine tannins and a good finish of peppery spice and red cherry. Refreshing and cleanses the palate nicely."

Food Pairings

A natural match for salumi, aged hard cheeses, roasted lamb, braised Piedmontese beef, and truffle-based dishes. Decant for at least 45 minutes; will continue to develop beautifully with additional cellaring.

Product Details

• Producer: Cascina Baricchi
• Region: Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
• Grape: Nebbiolo Rosé (100%)
• Classification: Barbaresco Riserva
• Vineyard: Rose delle Casasse
• Vintage: 2016
• Format: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• Wine Advocate – 97 Points | “Upfront, incredibly perfumed nose of spring flowers, cured meats, roasted herbs, olives and sweet cassis fruit. Full-bodied, beautifully textured, mouth-filling and already impossible to resist — it expands on the palate and I guarantee this beauty will put a smile on your face anytime over the coming two decades.” Drinking 2016–2036.
• Wine Spectator – 96 Points | “Brooding, with layers of warm tobacco leaf, roasted alder and juniper, and sweet tapenade, backed by a dense core of macerated plum, black currant and raspberry fruit. The long, smoldering finish shows terrific latent grip.” Best from 2018–2030.
• James Suckling – 95 Points | “Super peppery, very concentrated and immaculately fragrant. Entrancing brown-spice aromas across red plums and darker black fruits. Layered, smooth and supple, pitching concentrated flavors against precise, dense and very powerful tannin. Exceptional wine.” Drink 2020–2030.
• Decanter – 95 Points | “Porcini mushroom and a touch of graphite on the finish. The acidity is well balanced, the tannins a little dry and leathery.” Drinking 2021–2033.
• Vinous – 94 Points | “Heady, intensely perfumed aromas of red fruit preserves, incense, smoky minerals and lavender. Stains the palate with sweet, seamless raspberry liquéur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors. Strikingly long and precise finish with resonating mineral and floral notes.” Drinking 2021–2030.

Tasting Notes

Red fruits, blackberry, and floral aromas of violet define the nose of La Mouline. On the palate, the wine is silky, velvety, and voluptuous with intense aromatics, seamless texture, and a finish of extraordinary length and precision. A wine of rare beauty and complexity.

About the Wine

La Mouline is one of Guigal’s legendary “La La” wines — among the most celebrated and collectible bottles in the entire Rhône Valley. Sourced from a single steep vineyard on the Côte Blonde in Côte-Rôtie, La Mouline is predominantly Syrah with a small percentage of Viognier co-fermented, lending its signature floral perfume and silky texture. The wine spends 42 months in new oak before bottling — a hallmark of Guigal’s uncompromising approach to quality.

Food Pairing

Outstanding with game birds, roasted lamb, truffle dishes, and aged hard cheeses. Also exceptional on its own as a contemplative collector’s wine.

Product Details

• Appellation: Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône, France
• Varietal: Syrah with Viognier (co-fermented)
• Vintage: 2012
• Format: 750ml
• Drinking Window: Now–2036
• Producer: E. Guigal

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby red color. Generous nose with aromas of ripe red berry fruit with spicy overtones. Intense on the palate, quite rich though very elegant and well-balanced. The tannins are present, but very well integrated in the fruit structure of the wine. Long aftertaste with good freshness. A wine with extraordinary finesse and balance. Pair with red meats, roasts, and wild game.

Expert Reviews

Vinous 98 Points | The 2019 Barolo Cerequio is a worthy follow up to the stellar 2018. Aromatic and deeply pitched, the 2019 races across the palate with remarkable depth and intensity. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint and cinnamon all open in the glass, but it is the wine's silkiness and suppleness that impresses most. A kick of acids and tannins puts an exclamation point on the finish. This is a gorgeous Cerequio that takes all the finesse this site offers, and then turns up the volume. What a wine.

Robert Parker 97+ Points | Vietti was able to buy a 9,000-square meter piece of Cerequio from Michele Chiarlo, arguably the king of this celebrated cru. And because this is a new addition to the portfolio, the Vietti team is still learning the ropes. For example, there is a fresh minty tone that pops up from the bouquet of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio. "That minty note was a mystery to us," Luca Currado tells me. "But then we understood that its part of Cerequio." This wine shows a firm grip on the palate that does extend out to include some textural softness, but it ultimately remains quite structured. Among the grand cru sites of La Morra, Luca Currado tells me that "Cerequio is the brother and Brunate is the sister." His wife Elena Penna adds, "We've never had two sites so close to one another show such a great difference between them.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | Coming from La Morra, a more fruit-forward tone can be found in the licorice spice and depth of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio, which offers slightly darker fruit, ripe berries, and peppercorn. This was the second vintage produced and is more approachable now for the vintage. It is a joyful wine though it still has ripe structure.

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Expert Review

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Surprisingly tannic for such an old wine, but a lovely drink allthe same, with smoky aromas and concentrated blackberry flavors. Will the tannins soften? Try around 1995.--Mouton-Rothschild vertical.   –PM 

Winemaker Notes:

Campo di Camagi is one of the three labels of 100% Cabernet Franc produced by Andrea Franchetti from 2014, who wanted to devote the utmost attention to this historic grape of Bordeaux, enhancing its characteristics in relation to three different terroir of the estate. It is produced exclusively with grapes from a single plot of 1.5 hectares composed of a thin layer of quartz and limestone. The 27 year old vines struggle to grow in this space, the stems do not grow, the roots have filled it.

Expert Reviews 

Monica Larner writes:   Made with Cabernet Franc, the Tenuta di Trinoro 2020 Campo di Camagi shows a level of sharpness and precision that you don't get as clearly in the other wines in this series of single-vineyard releases. There is more oak spice with redwood and cedar, along with crushed granite and pencil shaving. The wine is linear and delivers big intensity to the palate, and it has the structure and acidity to accompany a long drinking window.  Drinking 2024 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

James Suckling writes:  So perfumed with violets and lavender with some currants. Medium- to full-bodied with polish and finesse. Racy and fine. Finesse with drive. Very elegant and straightforward with a racy texture. Very long and lightly edgy. 92% cabernet franc and 8% merlot. Drink after 2027 but already beautiful.  - James Suckling 96

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A spicy red, featuring a beam of black currant and blackberry fruit shaded by violet, black pepper, iron and mint. Lithe and ends with a line of resonant tannins on the tobacco-tinged finish. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 166 cases made, 65 cases imported.  Wine Spectator 94

Jancis Robinson writes:  Racy, lively and a little fragile and delicate. Tense.  Drinking 2024 - 2034  - Jancis Robinson 17.5

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018). 

Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018). 

James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

The top Cabernet is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, which comes all from the Howell Mountain AVA. It's another inky colored beauty boasting a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits, ground herbs, spice box, graphite, and forest floor. With brilliant minerality on the palate as well as full-bodied richness and an expansive, opulent texture, it has sweet tannins and is approachable today, yet will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 25-30 years. It's one of the few 2017s to come close to its 2016 counterpart. Bravo!  Drinking 2024 to 2054.  Jeb Dunnuck 97

Bottled only three weeks ago, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, having spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals beautiful notions of kirsch, red and black currant preserves, raspberry pie and warm plums with hints of red roses, stewed tea, underbrush and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful red fruit and floral intensity intermingled with black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Very different from the epic 2016 Dancing Bear, but very exciting!  Drinking 2020 to 2038.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear ranch is a gorgeous Howell Mountain red. Succulent black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, new leather, rose petal and blood orange all run through this deep, resonant, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon from Cakebread. This is a very pretty wine.  Drinking 2022 to 2032.  - Vinous 93

Winemaker Description

A medium-bodied Pinot Noir with remarkable floral, cherry and raspberry aromas. In the mouth, bright fruit flavors with a wonderful texture and extraordinary acidity. Smooth and balanced with a long, silky and velvety finish.

Expert Review

92 Points Wine Spectator | A medium-bodied red with aromas of wild raspberries, porcini, dried herbs and smoked meat. Powdery, fine tannins with a chalky feel. Concentrated and taut with a savory, mineral finish. Drink or hold. (2019)

Icardi Barbaresco Montubert Organic 2020 750ml

A benchmark Barbaresco from one of Piedmont's most principled organic estates. The Icardi family has farmed without herbicides or pesticides since 1914, and the Montubert vineyard expresses the full nobility of Nebbiolo — structured, aromatic, and built to age gracefully.

James Suckling 93 Points: Red-fruited and spiced with crushed walnuts and licorice. Medium-bodied with polished, delicate tannins. Fresh and vivid fruit character with a polished mineral finish and hints of citrus peel and dried herbs.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points: Sweetly spiced and charming, showing aromas of candied cherries, allspice, cedar, and mixed wild herbs. Elegant tannins with flavors of dried cranberries and dried orange peel. Drink now–2035.

Wine Spectator 90 Points: Savory with juniper, eucalyptus, and mint accenting a cherry, strawberry, and floral core. Lean and taut with dusty tannins. Best from 2027 through 2042.

Food Pairings

• Braised short ribs, osso buco, and slow-roasted lamb
• Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano and hard cheeses
• Truffle pasta, mushroom risotto, and game meats
• Roasted duck and venison

Wine Details

• Varietal: Nebbiolo
• Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
• Vintage: 2020
• Size: 750ml
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Producer: Icardi

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.

Domaine Louis Jadot Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées — Burgundy 2022

Les Fuées is one of Chambolle-Musigny's 24 Premier Cru vineyards, distinguished by chalky soil over hard bedrock and an eastern exposure that imparts a signature mineral precision. Jadot's 2022 is a textbook expression of the site — feminine, elegant, and layered, with fine tannins and a core of red and dark fruit framed by spice, violet, and exotic tea. Fermented in vats for up to four weeks and aged 18–20 months in oak, this is a wine built for the cellar: 15–20 years of development potential. James Suckling awarded it 96 points, calling it “outstanding.”

The nose is fragrant and cool: flowers, ripe plums, blood orange, cinnamon, exotic tea, and peonies. On the palate, medium to full body with velvety, saturated tannins and a succulent core of red and dark currant. The concentration is effortlessly offset by spicy acidity, fanning out on a long, mineral-driven finish of remarkable purity and tension. In a word, classy.

James Suckling 96 • Vinous 94 • Wine Advocate 94 • Burghound 92

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2022

James Suckling — 96 Points
"This big and at first subtle wine opens with fragrant flowers, ripe plums and cinnamon, fills the palate with richness on a full body, but then tightens up on the finish to show it has the structure to age well. Outstanding wine to drink now."

Vinous Media — 94 Points
"The 2022 Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuées 1er Cru, which Frédéric Barnier said suffered less during the growing season, is a conspicuous step up in complexity from the Les Baudes: much more mineralé and precision, far more terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, the concentration effortlessly offset by the spice of acidity. It's quite spicy as it fans out on the finish. Excellent."

The Wine Advocate — 94 Points
"The 2022 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées (Domaine Louis Jadot) is excellent, mingling aromas of sweet red berries with notions of blood orange, spices and peonies. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and layered, with a succulent core of fruit and attractive purity and tension."

Burghound (Allen Meadows) — 92 Points
"This is aromatically quite cool and fresh as well as appealingly elegant on the mix of red and dark currant, exotic tea and violet-scented nose. The sleek, intense and succulent medium weight flavors aren't particularly concentrated yet the sap still manages to coat the palate on the lingering and balanced bitter pit fruit-inflected finale that is almost aggressively mineral-driven. This is a lovely and well-balanced Fuées with fine development potential, which is just as well as it does need to develop better depth. In a word, classy."

• Producer: Domaine Louis Jadot, Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
• Vineyard: Les Fuées — chalky soil over hard bedrock, eastern exposure
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vinification: Vat fermentation up to 4 weeks, 18–20 months oak aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Flowers, plum, blood orange, cinnamon, tea, peonies, red currant, mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 15–20 years
• Best Paired With: Duck breast, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, venison

A 96-point Premier Cru Burgundy from one of the Côte de Nuits’ most trusted addresses — Les Fuées at its most expressive.

Château La Nerthe | Les Cassagnes Blanc | Côtes du Rhône | Rhône Valley, France | 2022

One of the Rhône Valley's most storied estates, Château La Nerthe has been producing wines of elegance and precision since 1590 — the only true château in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Les Cassagnes Blanc is their approachable Côtes du Rhône white, a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne grown within the Massif d'Uchaux territory. The 2022 delivers aromatic intensity and creamy texture, with cooked lemon, nectarine, peach, white pepper, and white flowers. A wine of volume, balance, and vivid finish — exceptional value from a legendary address.

Tasting Notes

Cooked lemons, fresh bay leaves, peaches, white pepper, and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with a harmonious, creamy palate. Concentrated nectarine flavors with a touch of oak spice and a vivid, aromatic finish.

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2022

Decanter 92 Points
"There's a touch of oak to the nose and palate, giving a touch of spice and polish to the intense, concentrated nectarine flavours. Plenty of impact and concentration."

James Suckling 92 Points
"An aromatic nose of cooked lemons, fresh bay leaves, peaches, white pepper and white flowers. Medium body with a harmonious and creamy palate. It has volume and balance with an aromatic and vivid finish."

• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône, Rhône Valley
• Blend: Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 750ml
• Producer: Château La Nerthe

Domaine Michel Niellon · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru · Clos de la Maltroie · Burgundy · 2023

Domaine Michel Niellon is one of Chassagne-Montrachet’s most celebrated small estates — a benchmark producer whose premier cru holdings represent some of the finest terroir in the Côte de Beaune. Clos de la Maltroie is one of the appellation’s most distinguished premier cru climats: a walled enclosure with deep limestone soils that consistently produces Chardonnay of impressive weight, precision, and aging potential. Niellon’s approach is classically Burgundian — minimal intervention, terroir-driven, and built for the cellar. The 2023 vintage in Burgundy delivered wines of exceptional freshness and aromatic intensity, and the Clos de la Maltroie is no exception.

Golden lemon in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of tropical fruit, peach, pear, petrol, and hawthorn flowers. On the palate, succulent and concentrated — juicy peach, fresh pear, exotic fruits, and bright citrus lead to a lemon zest finish of real length and precision. Medium to full-bodied, lively, and tightly wound around bright acids and chalky extract. Ready soon but with the capacity to age gracefully for a decade or more.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Allen Meadows 90 Points | A more floral-suffused nose offers up vaguely exotic aromas of white peach, lychee and passion fruit along with just sliced citrus hints. I very much like the sense of underlying tension and caressing mouthfeel the barely middle weight flavors display before culminating in a balanced, long and agreeably dry finale. This too could use better depth but the development potential seems clear.

Expert Reviews — Prior Vintages

“Pale lemon color. The character shows more on the palate, white fruit with a little sucrosity. Ready soon but with capacity to age.”
— Wine Spectator · 92 Points

“Aromas of pear, beeswax, toasted nuts, white flowers and youthful reduction. A medium to full-bodied, lively and tightly wound young wine built around bright acids and chalky extract.”
— Wine Advocate · 91 Points

• Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
• Climat: Clos de la Maltroie
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Dry white — concentrated, mineral, chalky
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, peach, pear, petrol, hawthorn, exotic fruit, lemon zest, chalky finish
• Pairings: Lobster, turbot, Dover sole, scallops, roast chicken with cream sauce, aged Comté
• Cellar: Drink now through 2035+

Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru — Clos de la Maltroie from one of Burgundy’s most meticulous small estates. Concentrated, chalky, and built to age.

Domaine Michel Niellon · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru · Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière · Burgundy · 2023

Domaine Michel Niellon is one of Chassagne-Montrachet’s most revered addresses — a small, meticulous family estate that has farmed its premier cru parcels for generations with an unwavering commitment to terroir expression over winemaking intervention. Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière is among the domaine’s most prized holdings: a monopole planted with ancient vines, some more than a century old, set very high on the slope where the combination of altitude, old vine concentration, and Chassagne’s signature limestone soils produces Chardonnay of extraordinary tension and longevity. The 2023 earned 96 points from Charles Curtis MW at Decanter — a wine built for the cellar and the ages.

The 2023 opens with pronounced ripe fruit aromas of lemon peel, nectarine, and gooseberry, edged with saline minerality. The texture is impressively fresh for the vintage — lilting and silky — with marvellous concentration and great tension on the palate. A wine of rare substance and precision, it will benefit from a decade in the cellar and has the structure to drink beautifully for several decades after that.

“Pronounced ripe fruit aromas of lemon peel, nectarine and gooseberry, with an edge of saline minerality. The texture is impressively fresh for the vintage, with a lilting, silky texture, marvellous concentration and great tension on the palate. The grapes are from ancient vines, some more than a century old, planted very high on the slope. This will benefit from a decade in the cellar, but it has the substance to drink for several decades after that.”
— Charles Curtis MW, Decanter · 96 Points

• Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
• Climat: Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière (monopole)
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Vines: Ancient vines, some 100+ years old; high on the slope
• Style: Dry white — mineral, concentrated, exceptional tension
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon peel, nectarine, gooseberry, saline minerality, silky texture, great concentration and tension
• Cellar: Drink 2033–2050+
• Pairings: Lobster, turbot, Dover sole, scallops, white truffle dishes, aged Comté

Decanter 96 · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru — century-old vines, monopole climat, and a decade or more of cellaring ahead. One of Burgundy’s most compelling 2023s.

Saint Clair Family Estate Dillons Point Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough, New Zealand 2025

Saint Clair Family Estate is one of Marlborough’s most celebrated family wineries, farming the Wairau Valley with a precision and commitment to sustainable viticulture that has made their Sauvignon Blanc a benchmark for the region. The Dillons Point is sourced from a selection of vineyards in the lower Wairau sub-region — an area renowned for producing Sauvignon Blanc of heightened aromatic expression, where the proximity to the coast brings a distinctive sea spray minerality and a natural freshness that sets it apart. Certified sustainable from vine to bottle. James Suckling awarded it 90 points.

The nose is generous and vivid: passion fruit, guava, gooseberry, and fresh-cut grass, with a tropical exuberance that is quintessentially Marlborough. On the palate, the wine is juicy and medium-bodied with lively limey acidity, flavors of grapefruit, lemon, peach, and tropical fruit, and a refreshingly crisp finish with a lingering sense of sea spray and minerality. Succulent, zesty, and deeply satisfying.

James Suckling 90 — "Vivid and juicy, with tropical aromas of passion fruit, gooseberries and grass, following through to a medium body with limey acidity. Succulent and zesty. Sustainable." (Vintage 2025). 

• Producer: Saint Clair Family Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Marlborough, New Zealand
• Sub-Region: Dillons Point, Lower Wairau Valley
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Certification: Certified Sustainable
• Closure: Screwcap
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Passion fruit, guava, gooseberry, grapefruit, lemon, peach, fresh-cut grass, sea spray, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, goat cheese, green salads, sushi, light seafood pasta

A 90-point certified sustainable Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from one of New Zealand’s most trusted family estates — Saint Clair Dillons Point is the benchmark for what lower Wairau coastal terroir can deliver in a glass.

Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay — Arroyo Seco, Monterey 2023

Wente Vineyards planted Riva Ranch in 1961, long before Arroyo Seco had a reputation to speak of. Karl L. Wente saw what others missed: a cool, wind-driven corridor carved by the Santa Lucia Range, with gravelly loam soils and a microclimate that forces vines to work for every degree of ripeness. Over sixty years later, Riva Ranch remains the heart of the Wente estate — and the 2023 vintage is a compelling argument for why this vineyard matters.

The nose is warm and precise: ripe golden apple, caramelized pineapple, toasted brioche, and a lift of white flower. On the palate, the wine is lush and slightly viscous, with a creamy mid-palate of crème brûlée, roasted hazelnut, and buttery oak. Bright, carefully integrated acidity keeps the wine honest and the finish long. This is a Chardonnay that earns its richness — shaped by place, not formula.

Tasting Panel 93 • James Suckling 91 • Wine Enthusiast 90 — "Fresh and vibrant, with butterscotch adhering to a stony frame. Creamy oak, fine acid structure, and pleasing mango and banana."

• Producer: Wente Vineyards, Livermore Valley, California
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Arroyo Seco, Monterey, California
• Vineyard: Riva Ranch Estate
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Golden apple, caramelized pineapple, toasted brioche, crème brûlée, roasted hazelnut, buttery oak
• Best Paired With: Roast chicken, lobster bisque, grilled halibut, aged Gruyère, creamy pasta

A 93-point California Chardonnay at an honest price — Wente's Riva Ranch is the benchmark for what Arroyo Seco can be.

About This Wine

Beaulieu Vineyard — BV — is one of Napa Valley's most storied estates, founded in 1900 and home to the legendary Georges de Latour Private Reserve. The BV Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the house's approachable flagship: a Bordeaux-inspired blend drawing from Rutherford, Calistoga, and St. Helena, aged 15 months in French and European oak. Generous, polished, and built for immediate enjoyment.

The 2022 vintage delivers a warm, fruit-forward profile — strawberry, black cherry, and cassis up front, with kola nut, mocha, and toasted oak in support. The blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Petit Verdot adds mid-palate plushness and a lingering, finessed finish. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and a lovely mouthfeel, this is a Napa Cab that delivers at the table tonight.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby
• Nose: Caramel, ripe red berries, strawberry, black cherry, cassis
• Palate: Medium body, juicy red and black fruit, blueberry, kola nut, mocha, toasted oak
• Finish: Soft tannins, tangy freshness, lingering and finessed

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast 93 | Focused and brilliant flavors of red and black cherries and black currants drive this sleek and powerful wine, as minty, toasty, and tobacco-like accents stay subtly in the background. A full body, medium to full tannins and good fruit acidity lend tangy freshness. Best from 2026.

James Suckling 92 | A warm and generous wine with a sweet-seeming richness that makes it easy to sip without further aging. Full-bodied, laced with mostly red fruit — strawberries to cherries — with underlying blueberry, cocoa and crème de cassis notes. Drink now.

Food Pairings

Grilled ribeye, roasted chicken, lamb burgers, aged cheddar, and tomato-based pasta. Versatile enough for weeknight dinners and special occasions alike.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2022
Region: Napa Valley, California
Appellation: Napa Valley AVA
Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 5% Malbec, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
Oak Aging: 15 months, French & European oak (30% new)
Style: Full-bodied Red Wine

About This Wine

Lewis Cellars has built its reputation on wines of explosive intensity and impeccable polish — and the 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception. Sourced from prime Napa Valley fruit and aged 19 months in 100% French oak (65% new), this is a wine that balances power with precision, youthful exuberance with genuine aging potential.

The 2022 vintage in Napa was defined by warm days, cool nights, and a late-season heatwave in September that concentrated flavors beautifully. The result is a wine brimming with black cherry, brambly oak spice, cocoa, and cardamom — plush and fleshy on the palate, with soft, supple tannins and a finish that lingers. Approachable now, built to evolve through 2035.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby with violet highlights
• Nose: Black cherry, bramble, cassis, cocoa, cardamom, flowery incense, cedary spice
• Palate: Medium-to-full body, plush and fleshy, concentrated dark fruit, roasted coffee, baking spice
• Finish: Long, polished, soft supple tannins — rich yet refined

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 93 | A rock-solid success in this challenging vintage. Plums, subtle cassis, flowery incense, and spicy, cedary nuances define the aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, round, lush, and textured with terrific overall balance. Drink 2025–2035.

James Suckling 91 | Plush and intense with deep-set, ripe dark berries, baking spices, roasted coffee beans and walnuts. Concentrated and dense on the full-bodied palate with spiced, cedary tightness to the tannins. Rich yet polished. Better from 2027.

Food Pairings

Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, roasted lamb, aged hard cheeses, and dark chocolate. A Napa Cab built for the table — and equally at home on its own.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2022
Region: Napa Valley, California
Appellation: Napa Valley AVA
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak Aging: 19 months, 100% French oak (65% new)
Style: Full-bodied Red Wine

Cline Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon — Alexander Valley 2023

In prehistoric times, a rampaging Russian River carved the Alexander Valley — leaving behind sedimentary rock that defines the vineyard soils to this day, while the towering surrounding hills trap summer heat like an oven. It is this dramatic geological history that gives Rock Carved its name and its character. The wine is sourced from the Rio Lago Vineyard, owned and managed by the Horowitz family since 1990 — a site at the western foothills of the Mayacamas Mountain range that experiences one of the wettest microclimates within the Alexander Valley AVA. Planted in diverse clay-loam and silty-loam soils, the vineyard is cooled each evening by marine air moving in along the Russian River from the Pacific Ocean. The combination of daytime heat to ripen the grapes and cool evening air to preserve freshness and acidity is the key to producing ultra-premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon here.

Grapes are hand-harvested at night, sorted, and gently destemmed. Fermentation is carried out by native yeasts, warming to temperatures peaking at 100°F, with the wine left on skins for 24 days. After gentle pressing, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel and ages for 14 months in 50% new French oak. The result is full-bodied, multilayered, and genuinely complex: blackberry, black plum, and black currant, with cedar, leather, and mocha, balanced acidity, smooth rich tannins, and a long, powerful finish. James Suckling awarded it 91 points; Wine Enthusiast 90 points.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling — 91 Points
“A robust, muscular, full-flavored and full-bodied wine that loads a ton of blackberry, black-cherry and cocoa flavors onto a frame of sturdy tannins. Cloves, cedar and toast add complexity to the core of dark fruit.”

Wine Enthusiast — 90 Points
“This dark and intense Cabernet shows aromas of roasted plum compote, licorice, shattered granite, and cinnamon on the nose. The palate possesses a wealth of rich tannin, with flavors of blackberry pie, pithy orange, violets, and grilled bread along the finale.”

• Producer: Cline Cellars, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
• Vineyard: Rio Lago Vineyard (Horowitz Family)
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Aging: 14 months in 50% new French oak
• Size: 750ml
• Style: Robust, muscular, full-bodied Alexander Valley Cabernet
• Tasting Notes: Blackberry, black plum, black currant, cedar, leather, mocha, cocoa, cloves, sturdy tannins
• Drink Window: Now–2032
• Best Paired With: Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb, BBQ brisket, aged hard cheeses

Carved by geology, defined by terroir — Cline Rock Carved 2023 is Alexander Valley Cabernet at its most powerful.

Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley — Sonoma County 2023

Lewis Cellars is one of Napa and Sonoma’s most celebrated producers of opulent, barrel-fermented Chardonnay — and the Russian River Valley bottling is the more feminine, floral counterpart to their Napa expression. The Russian River Valley is defined by its proximity to the Pacific: morning fog, cool afternoons, and salty ocean air that slow ripening and impart a distinctive floral aromatic quality and subtle minerality that sets this appellation apart. The 2023 growing season was one of the longest of the past decade — mild, consistently sunny weather promoted even ripening with exceptional complexity. Lewis waited until late September to begin harvest, picking the last fruit in the second week of November, allowing prolonged hang time for maximal flavor development. The wine is fully barrel-fermented with native yeast and undergoes 100% malolactic conversion in French oak — the Lewis signature.

The color is a luminous golden straw. The nose is rich and captivating: sweet jasmine, roasted pear, popcorn, caramel, cinnamon, and citrus blossom, with a whisper of salty Pacific air. On the palate, it is full-bodied, broad, and richly textured — pear syrup, lemon cream, apple chutney, flaky pastry, and Meyer lemon curd, with rocky minerality and barrel spice woven through a long, succulent, and elegant finish. Vibrant and elevated on entry, graceful and complex through the mid-palate, and deliciously succulent on the landing.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling — 94 Points
“This full-bodied, soft and rich wine drips with pear-syrup and lemon-cream flavors. Fully barrel-fermented with native yeast and 100% malolactic, it feels broad and melted, tasting ultraripe, almost sweet. Great wine if you like this style. Drink or hold.”

Wine Enthusiast — 92 Points
“Big, rich aromas of popcorn, roasted pear, caramel, and cinnamon waft on the nose. The palate is broad and richly textured, with flavors of apple chutney, flaky pastry, rocky minerality, barrel spice, and citrus blossoms, with echoes of cinnamon and Meyer lemon curd through the finish.”

• Producer: Lewis Cellars, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Russian River Valley
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Vinification: Fully barrel-fermented with native yeast, 100% malolactic conversion, French oak
• Harvest: Late September – second week of November (extended hang time)
• Style: Rich, opulent, floral, cool-climate Russian River Chardonnay
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Jasmine, roasted pear, caramel, lemon cream, apple chutney, Meyer lemon curd, rocky minerality, salty Pacific air
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or hold 3–5 years
• Best Paired With: Lobster, crab, roast chicken, creamy pasta, soft-ripened cheeses, scallops

Russian River Chardonnay at its most lush and expressive — Lewis Cellars 2023 is the Pacific Coast in a glass.

Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Veeder — Napa Valley 2021

Mt. Brave is the Mountain Veeder project of Chris Carpenter — the winemaker behind Lokoya and Cardinale, and one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated mountain viticulturists. The estate vineyards sit high above the fog line on the undulating ridgelines of Mt. Veeder, where some sites date back to just before the Civil War. The soils are volcanic and iron-rich, the yields are brutally low, and the fruit that survives is among the most concentrated and complex in all of Napa. Carpenter’s philosophy is one of restraint and terroir transparency — allowing Mt. Veeder to reveal itself in each vintage rather than imposing a winemaker’s hand. The 2021 blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot — 3,830 cases produced. James Suckling called it the best Mt. Brave ever made.

The color is a deep, saturated ruby. The nose is breathtaking: violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, bay leaf, and cedary oak, with gorgeous mid-palate depth and nuances of tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni. On the palate, it is full-bodied and silky — very fine tannins that caress the palate with velvety precision, mouthwatering ripeness, and a long, focused, and deeply complex finish. There is upfront accessibility today, but this wine deserves 3–4 years in the cellar and will reward patience for two decades. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling — 99 Points
“A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. A total of 3,830 cases produced. Give it three to four years to soften.”

Jeb Dunnuck — 97 Points
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a classic Mountain Cabernet with full-bodied richness and ample, although velvety, tannins as well as pure cassis and currant-like fruits, gorgeous mid-palate depth and opulence on the palate, and beautiful complexity in its tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni-like nuances. It’s another remarkable wine from Carpenter that has some upfront accessibility today yet deserves 3-4 years in the cellar. It will have two decades of overall longevity, and as top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon goes, it’s a terrific value.”

Wine Advocate — 95 Points
“Cassis and blueberries are joined on the nose by hints of dried sage, bay leaf and cedary oak. Full-bodied and silky, with drying tannins and mouthwatering ripeness on the long finish. Give it a couple of years in the cellar and drink it over the next couple of decades.”

Wine Spectator — 94 Points
“This is deep and winey, with cassis, plum paste and linzer torte notes leading the way. Structured but succulent, offering singed apple wood, bay and cast iron accents that support the fruit through the long and focused finish. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school. Best from 2025 through 2040.”

• Producer: Mt. Brave (Chris Carpenter), Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley
• Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
• Production: 3,830 cases
• Style: Powerful, silky, terroir-driven Mountain Veeder Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, tobacco, graphite, bouquet garni, cedary oak
• Drink Window: 2025–2040
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb rack, wild mushroom dishes, aged hard cheeses

Mountain Veeder Cabernet at its absolute pinnacle — Mt. Brave 2021 is Chris Carpenter’s finest hour.

Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley — Sonoma County 2022

Anakota is the Knights Valley project of Pierre Seillan — the visionary vigneron behind Vérité — and it stands apart from every other Sonoma Cabernet. The estate vineyards climb the southwest-facing volcanic slopes of Mount St. Helena at 700–950 feet of elevation, surrounded by cold mountain streams and forests of native fir and oak. The soils are volcanic and mineral-rich, and the message of the land is conveyed in every bottle. The 2022 blend draws from three estate parcels: Helena Montana (53%), Coyote Hills (34%), and Stonestreet Estate (13%), composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. This is Sonoma Cabernet at its most rugged, pure, and terroir-driven.

The color is a brilliant ruby-violet with a vivid rim. The nose is immediately captivating: crunchy boysenberry, juicy black plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, and roasted espresso bean, layered with herbes de Provence and subtle baking spice. On the palate, the wine is rich and velvety — full-bodied with fine-grained tannins that are soothing and precise, electric acidity, and wet stone minerality driving a layered, complex, and lingering finish. Drink now or hold for a decade.

“So pure, fruity and appealing — ripe, welcoming flavors and fine-grained texture that’s soothing on the palate. Black cherries, blackberries, dried blueberries and dark chocolate. Rich in velvety tannins, leading to a lingering finish.” — 94 Points. Jim Gordon, Executive Editor, JamesSuckling.com. (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Anakota (Pierre Seillan), Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Knights Valley, Sonoma County
• Composition: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot
• Vineyards: Helena Montana 53%, Coyote Hills 34%, Stonestreet Estate 13%
• Elevation: 700–950 ft, southwest-facing volcanic slopes of Mt. St. Helena
• Style: Rich, precise, terroir-driven Knights Valley Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Boysenberry, black plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, espresso, herbes de Provence, wet stone minerality
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 10+ years
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, aged cheddar

Knights Valley Cabernet from one of California’s great vignerons — Anakota is the volcanic soul of Sonoma in a bottle.

From one of the pioneering wineries of the Russian River Valley, Davis Bynum River West Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 captures the richness and elegance that have made this region one of California's premier homes for Chardonnay. Sourced from the acclaimed River West Vineyard, this beautifully balanced wine combines vibrant fruit, refreshing acidity, and refined texture. 

The nose opens with expressive aromas of Gala apple, ripe nectarine, lemon peel, and toasted hazelnut, accented by delicate hints of citrus blossom and vanilla. On the palate, layers of orchard fruit and bright citrus unfold across a rich, textured mouthfeel. Fresh acidity provides lift and energy, while subtle oak influence adds complexity without overwhelming the wine's natural fruit character. The finish is long and polished, with lingering notes of salted lemon, pineapple, and baking spice.

A versatile and food-friendly Chardonnay, this Russian River Valley bottling pairs beautifully with roast chicken, grilled salmon, lobster, crab cakes, creamy pasta dishes, and aged cheeses.

Wine Enthusiast – 92 Points
"Aromas of Gala apple, nectarine, toasted hazelnut and lemon peel drive the nose of this acid-forward Chardonnay. The palate gives rich, pithy texture and sunny flavors of tart pineapple and citrus blossom, with salty lemon lingering on the finish." — Tom R. Capo

Tasting Notes

• Aromas: Gala apple, nectarine, lemon peel, toasted hazelnut
• Palate: Tart pineapple, citrus blossom, orchard fruit, subtle vanilla
• Body: Medium to full-bodied
• Style: Rich, vibrant, and beautifully balanced
• Finish: Long, fresh, and mineral-driven with lingering citrus notes

An elegant Russian River Valley Chardonnay that delivers both richness and precision, showcasing the distinctive character of one of California's most celebrated wine regions.

Castello di Bossi — Corbaia Toscana IGT 2022

Castello di Bossi is one of the benchmark estates of Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southern reaches of Chianti Classico, with a history stretching back to the 13th century. Corbaia — named for the vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the estate some 42 years ago — is their flagship Super-Tuscan: a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in stainless steel and matured in Allier oak barriques. The result is a wine of superb finesse and elegance, where the structure of Cabernet and the soul of Sangiovese find a natural equilibrium.

The 2022 is heady and explosive. Intense ruby-red with garnet highlights, it opens with a rush of dark fruit, new leather, blood orange, spice, and pipe tobacco — backed by jammy black currants, cherries, cassis, mocha, and vanilla. On the palate it is full-bodied yet supple, layered with rich texture and well-integrated tannins, with no hard edges and terrific balance. Pure and total sensuality, as Vinous put it — and they awarded it 95 points.

Vinous 95 — "The 2022 Corbaia is heady and explosive in the glass. A rush of dark fruit, new leather, blood orange, spice and pipe tobacco soars out of the glass. Rich yet not at all heavy, Corbaia delivers the goods. Readers will find a wine of pure and total sensuality with no hard edges and terrific balance."

• Producer: Castello di Bossi, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Toscana IGT (Super-Tuscan)
• Blend: Sangiovese & Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation, Allier oak barrique aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark fruit, blood orange, leather, tobacco, cassis, mocha, vanilla, integrated tannins
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar through 2035
• Best Paired With: Grilled lamb chops, ribeye steak, meats alla Diavola, Béarnaise sauces, aged Pecorino

A 95-point Super-Tuscan at $64 — Corbaia 2022 is Castello di Bossi at its most compelling.

Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer Côtes de Nuits-Villages Clos de Magny 2020 — Burgundy

Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer is based in Magny-les-Villers, at the crossroads of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Nuits — a ten-hectare estate with a remarkable range of appellations, from Échezeaux Grand Cru down to village-level Côtes de Nuits-Villages. Under Alexandre’s stewardship, every parcel is treated with equal rigor: hand-harvesting across the board, no chemical herbicides or pesticides, organic certification in progress, and early experiments with biodynamics. The results are already thrilling — wines of precision, depth, and a distinct sense of terroir that punch well above their appellation level.

The 2020 Clos de Magny is a wine built for the cellar. James Suckling awarded it 92 points, noting “plenty of blackberry and black cherry fruit wrapped around ample fine tannins” and a “long, well-structured finish” suggesting many years of life ahead. Still in an early phase of development, it is best from 2026 — but already compelling.

James Suckling 92 — “Long, well-structured finish suggests this has many years of life ahead of it.”

• Producer: Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer, Magny-les-Villers, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2020
• Appellation: Côtes de Nuits-Villages AOC
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Farming: Hand-harvested, no chemicals, organic certification in progress, biodynamic trials
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, fine tannins, well-structured, long finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or best from 2026+, many years ahead
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, lamb chops, mushroom dishes, aged Époisses, beef bourguignon

A 92-point village Burgundy at an honest price — Hoffmann-Jayer’s Clos de Magny is the benchmark for what Côtes de Nuits-Villages can be.

Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes — Burgundy 2022

Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy is one of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most respected family estates, farming some of the village’s finest parcels with meticulous care and an unwavering commitment to terroir expression. The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is sourced from the Champ Perrier lieu-dit on the Brochon side of the appellation, where vines averaging 50 to 60+ years of age dig deep into the limestone-rich soils to produce fruit of extraordinary concentration, complexity, and character. Rated Outstanding by Burghound — the highest accolade from the world’s foremost Burgundy authority — the 2022 is a serious, age-worthy Gevrey-Chambertin villages that demands attention and rewards patience.

The nose is brooding and sauvage: black cherry, forest floor, subtle oak, and an overtly wild, mineral-inflected aromatic profile of real depth. On the palate, it is solidly concentrated and quite powerful for a village-level wine — medium-bodied with evident minerality, abundant sap buffering a firm tannic spine, and a serious, lingering finish of impressive length. A Gevrey villages that drinks like a premier cru and will reward cellaring for a decade or more.

Burghound — Outstanding — 90 Points - “Subtle though still easily discerned wood on the brooding and overtly sauvage-inflected black cherry and forest floor aromas. Solidly concentrated and quite powerful, with evident minerality on the serious and lingering finish where abundant sap buffers the firm tannic spine. An excellent, age-worthy Gevrey villages worth checking out.” (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy, Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Gevrey-Chambertin AOC
• Lieu-Dit: Champ Perrier, Brochon
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vine Age: 50–60+ years
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Black cherry, forest floor, subtle oak, sauvage minerality, concentrated, firm tannins, long powerful finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink 2026–2040+
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, venison, beef bourguignon, lamb rack, aged Comté or Époisses

Fifty-plus-year-old vines, Burghound Outstanding, and a tannic spine built for the cellar — Harmand-Geoffroy’s Vieilles Vignes is Gevrey-Chambertin at its most compelling.