Red Wine

McCall Wines 2016 Pinot Noir Hillside North Fork 750ml

Experience McCall Wines 2016 Pinot Noir Hillside from the North Fork of Long Island, New York. Sustainable farming practices ensure quality and environmental stewardship. Nice weather, cool temperatures, and a long season were the perfect mix for making excellent Pinot Noir. Silky medium body, concentrated flavor, with hints of strawberry, cherry, hibiscus, clove and vanilla. 

Sustainable farming. Nice weather, cool temperatures, and a long season were the perfect mix for making excellent Pinot Noir. Silky medium body, concentrated flavor, with hints of strawberry, cherry, hibiscus, clove and vanilla. A great wine to pair with roasted mushroom risotto and gruyere cheese.

McCall Wines - North Fork Producer

McCall Wines is a respected producer from the North Fork of Long Island. The winery is committed to quality and sustainable practices.

North Fork of Long Island - New York

From the North Fork of Long Island, New York, a premier wine region. The North Fork is known for producing exceptional cool-climate wines.

Hillside Vineyard

From the Hillside vineyard, which provides excellent terroir for Pinot Noir. Hillside vineyards offer superior drainage and sun exposure.

2016 Vintage

The 2016 vintage showcases the quality of this exceptional year. Nice weather, cool temperatures, and a long season were the perfect mix for making excellent Pinot Noir.

Sustainable Farming

Sustainable farming practices ensure quality and environmental stewardship. The commitment to sustainability is evident in every bottle.

100% Pinot Noir

Crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. This noble variety thrives in the North Fork's cool climate.

Nice Weather, Cool Temperatures & Long Season

Nice weather, cool temperatures, and a long season were the perfect mix for making excellent Pinot Noir. The 2016 growing season was ideal.

Perfect Mix for Excellent Pinot Noir

The perfect mix for making excellent Pinot Noir that showcases the variety's elegance. The conditions allowed for optimal ripening.

Tasting Profile

Appearance: Ruby red
Aroma: Hints of strawberry, cherry, hibiscus, clove and vanilla
Palate: Silky medium body. Concentrated flavor. Strawberry, cherry, hibiscus, clove and vanilla
Finish: Smooth and satisfying

Silky Medium Body

Silky medium body provides elegance and substance. The texture is smooth and refined.

Concentrated Flavor

Concentrated flavor delivers depth and intensity. The wine has excellent fruit concentration.

Hints of Strawberry & Cherry

With hints of strawberry, cherry creating classic Pinot Noir fruit character. The red fruit expression is pure and appealing.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus adds floral complexity and elegance. This delicate floral note is distinctive and charming.

Clove & Vanilla

Clove and vanilla from oak aging add spice and richness. These secondary flavors complement the fruit beautifully.

Cool-Climate Pinot Noir

This is a beautiful example of cool-climate Pinot Noir. The North Fork's maritime climate is ideal for this variety.

Elegant & Refined

The wine is elegant and refined, showcasing Pinot Noir's delicate character. Every element is in harmony.

Versatile Food Pairing

Perfect with:

• Roasted mushroom risotto
• Gruyere cheese
• Duck
• Salmon
• Roasted chicken
• Pork tenderloin
• Earthy dishes

Great Wine to Pair with Roasted Mushroom Risotto

A great wine to pair with roasted mushroom risotto and gruyere cheese. The earthy flavors complement the wine's character perfectly.

Perfect with Gruyere Cheese

And gruyere cheese, creating a delightful pairing. The wine's acidity cuts through the richness of the cheese.

Ideal for Duck & Salmon

Also excellent with duck and salmon. The wine's medium body and silky texture complement these proteins beautifully.

Long Island Wine Excellence

This wine showcases the excellence of Long Island winemaking. The North Fork continues to produce world-class wines.

New York State Wine

A proud representative of New York State wine. New York is producing increasingly impressive Pinot Noir.

Maritime Climate Influence

The maritime climate of the North Fork provides ideal conditions for Pinot Noir. The moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean creates perfect growing conditions.

Commitment to Quality

McCall Wines' commitment to quality is evident in every bottle. The attention to detail in vineyard and cellar ensures exceptional wine.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Decanter 92 Points | Attractive harmony of ripe fruit aromas with some raisin notes, touches of blackcurrant and strawberry. Ripe and juicy, very fresh.

Memo Summary Notes

The Elvi Siblings by Mesorah 2022 is a refined, kosher-certified red blend from the Montsant region of Spain. This specific bottling is a collaboration within the Cohen family (the founders of Elvi Wines), designed by siblings David and Leah Cohen to be a more accessible, "approachable" version of their flagship Clos Mesorah estate wine.

This wine is a blend of 80% Grenache & 20% Carignan.
 
 

Winemaker Description 

Attractive deep cherry with violet glints color. Intense aroma with finesse and elegance, with mature red and black fruits well blended. powerful, luscious and mouth-filling, withsweet and mature tannins. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Elvi Herenza Rioja Reserva 2019 is the flagship Reserva from Elvi Wines, a family-run winery that has been producing world-class kosher wines in Spain for generations. In Rioja, "Reserva" status is a legal designation requiring at least three years of aging before release—this 2019 spent 20 months in French and American oak followed by nearly three years in the bottle.

• Meats: This wine is a natural partner for braised brisket, herb-crusted lamb chops, or a rich beef bourguignon.

• Savory Sides: Mushroom risotto or roasted root vegetables seasoned with smoked paprika.

  
  

   

Expert Review -  Vintage 2020

The Wine Enthusiast by Roger Voss writes 92 Points | From a specific parcel in the Haut Selve estate, the wine is rich and dense. Its black chocolate aroma gives a hint of the wine's ripeness. On the palate, this is a a powerful, smoothly textured wine, packed with black fruits and tannins. It is worth aging further, to be drunk from 2026.

Winemaker Description 

– Density: 2250 vines/acre
– Pruning: double guyot
– Sun exposed leaf area up to 3.2 acres
– Organic manure (faba beans and oats) and then scraping of the soils
– Limited yield to 38 hl/ha
– Sustainable agriculture

Vinification

– Prefermented cold maceration of 4 days, to extract aromas
– Alcoholic fermentation controlled between 26 and 28°C
– Total maceration between 3 and 4 weeks
– Malolactic fermentation in oak barrels
–  Ageing: 12 months in French oak barrels
– 1/3 of new barrels (Nadalié, Vicard, Sylvain, Mercier, Seguin Moreau, Marques, Garonnaise)

Tasting notes and Pairing | With beautiful cherry tints and orange reflects, this wine offers an intense nose of jammed morello cherry with elegant woody notes. Supple and structured, the palate is well balanced by ripped tannins.

Memo Summary Notes

Tasting Notes

    •    Appearance: Dark garnet red.

    •    Nose: Complex aromas of red and black fruits, spicy and mentholated notes, and subtle empyreumatic (smoky/toasted) woodiness.

    •    Palate: Velvety and dense with fresh fruit flavors; floral notes and violet appear on a long, structured finish with well-coated tannins.

    •    Drinking Window: Best enjoyed from 2024, reaching its peak between 2028 and 2030.

Winemaker Description 

The aromas that rise from the glass are a complex blend of black cherry, herbs, apricot jam and lavender. The dark fruits and hints of herbs delight the palate as the layers of green bell pepper and vanilla emerge. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Aslina "Umsasane" Red Blend 2022 is the flagship wine from Ntsiki Biyela, South Africa’s first Black female winemaker. The name "Umsasane" refers to the umbrella acacia tree and was the nickname of Ntsiki's grandmother, Aslina, symbolizing her role as the family's "anchor and protector."

Technical Profile & Composition

The 2022 vintage is a classic Bordeaux-style blend from the Stellenbosch region, known for producing world-class Cabernet.

• Winemaking: The wine is aged for approximately 16 months in French oak barrels, with about 15–20% being new oak. This adds structure without overpowering the fruit.

• The "Umsasane" is a bold wine that requires hearty flavors to match its structure:

  • Meats: Roast beef, grilled ribeye, or lamb chops with rosemary.

  • Vegetarian: Portobello mushroom steaks or a rich lentil stew.

  • Cheese: Aged Gouda or sharp Cheddar.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2022

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The nose of a dry Port — all violets, ripe plums and aromatic herbs, with plenty of spices, toast and smoke from 20 months in French oak (20% new). Needs time to integrate the oak and polish the tannins.

James Suckling 95 Points | Abundant dark fruit with blueberries, delicate violets and graphite. Fleshy and medium- to full-bodied, perfectly balanced by refreshing acidity through a clean, bright finish. Supple tannins. An old field blend of more than 40 varieties. Drink now or hold.

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Bursting with brambly boysenberry and blueberry, fragrant mountain herbs, graphite and woodsy spices. Fresh and focused with concentration and length in a medium-bodied frame. Chalky, integrated tannins with a salty, iron-laced tang. Classy. Drink now through 2035.

About Wine & Soul

Wine & Soul is the joint project of husband and wife Jorge Serôdio Borges and Sandra Tavares da Silva, both qualified oenologists. They bought an old port warehouse in the Vale de Mendiz in the heart of the Pinhão valley in 2003. The estate is 6 hectares with 2.5 ha under vine, averaging over 70 years old and planted with 30+ different varieties. The project is named after their dog Pintas, a Pointer.

Winemaking

Harvested in the second week of September in perfect conditions. All grapes were hand-selected, destemmed, and foot-trodden in traditional stone lagares throughout the full 10-day fermentation. Aging and malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels for 20 months.

Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Rufete

Tasting & Pairings

Violets, ripe plums, boysenberry, blueberry, graphite, dark chocolate, mountain herbs, and woodsy spice. Medium- to full-bodied with chalky tannins, bright acidity, and a salty, iron-laced finish. Decant generously or cellar through 2035.

• Braised beef cheeks or short ribs — the wine’s structure and dark fruit depth are built for slow-cooked meats.
• Grilled lamb chops with rosemary — the herbal and spice notes mirror the wine beautifully.
• Aged Manchego or Serra da Estrela cheese — Iberian cheeses that complement the Douro’s earthy complexity.

Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits — Burgundy 2020

Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer is one of Burgundy’s most compelling small estates, and their Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is a masterclass in what old vines and meticulous winemaking can achieve at a village level. Sourced from one hectare of 60-year-old Pinot Noir planted in the lieux-dits En Foigery and Les Castaings in Magny-lès-Villers, the 2020 vintage is vinified with a pre-fermentation cold soak and spontaneous fermentation in cement tank, then aged 18 months in a combination of two-thirds 228-liter barrels (20% new oak) and one-third terracotta jar — a rare and thoughtful approach that preserves freshness and amplifies terroir. Bottled without filtration for maximum purity and expression.

The nose is spicier and slightly more deeply pitched than expected for the appellation: plum, black cherry, and subtle earth. On the palate, bigger and richer medium-weight flavors are framed by fine tension and lip-smacking minerality — fresh but serious, with clean, elegant tannins and an impressively long finish. Allen Meadows of Burghound calls it simply: “One to buy.”

Allen Meadows, Burghound — “A spicier and slightly more deeply pitched nose of plum, black cherry and subtle earth gives way to bigger and richer medium-weight flavors that also possess fine tension on the impressively long finish. One to buy.”

• Producer: Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2020
• Appellation: Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits AOC
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Vine Age: 60 years
• Vineyards: En Foigery & Les Castaings, Magny-lès-Villers — 1ha
• Vinification: Cold soak, spontaneous fermentation in cement, 18 months in barrel (20% new) & terracotta jar, unfiltered
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Plum, black cherry, spice, earth, mineral, red fruit, elegant tannins, long finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 5–8 years
• Best Paired With: Roast chicken, duck breast, mushroom tart, gratin dauphinois, mild aged cheeses

Sixty-year-old vines, terracotta aging, and zero filtration — Hoffmann-Jayer’s Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is village Burgundy at its most honest and compelling.

Winemaker Description

This unique Israeli wine represent the best of the best of the specific vintage. Made from Jezreel's top rated barrels of Syrah and Carignan. 

Aromas of dark fruit, such as blackberry and black cherry, complemented by hints of leather, tobacco, and spice. On the palate, it is rich and full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long, smooth finish. 

Aged for 22 months in oak barrels.

Pair with grilled meats, hearty stews, or aged cheeses.

Memo Summary Notes

The Jezreel Valley Winery is a boutique winery located in the Jezreel Valley region of Israel, specifically in Kibbutz Hanaton.

The Jezreel Valley itself has one of the longest traditions of winemaking in the region.

Biblical Connection: The Jezreel Valley is famous in the Bible, most notably as the location of Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21), a story that highlights the area's ancient importance for viticulture.

Archaeological Evidence: Archaeologists have uncovered a large, rock-cut ancient winery complex at the foot of Tel Jezreel, which dates back to the 9th century BCE, around the time of King Ahab and Naboth. This shows the land has been producing wine for thousands of years.

Winemaker Description 

A bold and structured red with hints of ripe cherries and Mediterranean herbs. Organic elegance at a remarkable value.

A vibrant and elegant red from Puglia, Italy, this organic wine showcases the region’s signature Nero di Troia grape. On the nose, it offers aromas of dark cherry, plum, and subtle hints of Mediterranean herbs. The palate is structured yet approachable, with soft tannins, balanced acidity, and flavors of ripe red fruit, cocoa, and a touch of minerality. Perfect with roasted meats, hearty pasta dishes, or aged cheeses, this wine embodies the rich terroir of southern Italy while remaining fresh and expressive.

Winemaker Description

Elegant, approachable, and focused on drinkability and fruit, with depth and balance. It's often described as a great representation of classic Blaufränkisch, showcasing its lighter, more mineral side.

Dark berries, wild cherry, violets, cracked pepper, a subtle herbal/spice background, and an earthy edge. Soft, juicy, and lively with bright acidity. Flavors often include dark berries, plum, graphite, and spice. Some notes mention a salty, peppery, and iron-rich minerality.

Medium-bodied with fine, well-dispersed, or "dusty" tannins that play a supporting role. It has a bright, engaging, and long finish.

Sourced from vineyards in and around Oggau in Burgenland, Austria, with soils comprised of limestone, mica-schist, and slate.

The winery practices organic farming.

Fermented in stainless steel with native yeast, often racked into used Stockinger (large wooden) barrels for aging. The focus is on achieving ripeness while maintaining freshness and lower alcohol.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso — Etna DOC, Sicily, Italy 2024

Tenuta delle Terre Nere is one of Sicily’s most celebrated and visionary organic estates — a winery that has done more than almost any other producer to reveal the extraordinary potential of Mount Etna as a world-class wine region. Founded by Marco de Grazia after over forty years of passion in the world of fine wines, the estate sits on this island within an island: an extreme volcanic landscape at altitudes of 2,100 to 2,900 feet above sea level where hot sun, cool breeze, and cold nights combine to produce wines of exceptional finesse and elegance. Ancient lava soils, pre-phylloxera old vines, certified organic farming, and an unfined, unfiltered winemaking philosophy focused on expressing the refined and multifaceted microcosm of this ancient volcanic terroir make Terre Nere the benchmark for Etna Rosso. The 2024 earned 94 Points from James Suckling and 92 Points from Wine Spectator.

The nose is perfumed and precise: crushed stones, plum, cherry, dried lavender, rosemary, pureed raspberry, blood orange peel, and clove, with a hint of vanilla, cream, and fresh herbs. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and silky with juicy acidity, chewy but polished tannins, light sandy texture, and a long mineral-laced finish. It is elegant, complex, and deeply satisfying — the kind of volcanic Sicilian red that disappears fast and rewards patience in the cellar in equal measure.

"Crushed stones with plums, cherries and just a hint of vanilla and cream. Medium-bodied, showing fresh herbs and a touch of flower stems. Chewy tannins, but polished and very drinkable." — James Suckling, 94 Points. (Vintage 2024). 

"A perfumed red, with dried lavender and rosemary notes wafting through flavors of pureed raspberry, plum sauce, blood orange peel and clove. Silky in texture, with juicy acidity and light, sandy tannins firming the mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2033." — Wine Spectator, 92 Points. (Vintage 2024). 

• Producer: Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna, Sicily, Italy
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Etna Rosso DOC, Sicily, Italy
• Blend: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio (old vine, pre-phylloxera)
• Farming: Certified Organic — unfined & unfiltered
• Altitude: 2,100–2,900 feet above sea level on volcanic lava soils
• Closure: Cork
• Size: 750ml
• Drink: Now through 2033
• Tasting Notes: Crushed stone, plum, cherry, lavender, rosemary, blood orange peel, clove, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled swordfish, roasted lamb, pasta alla Norma, aged pecorino, wild mushroom dishes

Sicily’s benchmark Etna Rosso at an honest price — Tenuta delle Terre Nere is the standard for what old-vine, organic, volcanic Nerello Mascalese from Etna can deliver.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

The Tasting Panel 92 Points | Quintessential aromas of ripe berries and plum are joined by vanilla and peppercorn in this textbook Zin grown on the most southerly estate vineyard in Paso Robles 14 miles from the Pacific. The result is a red of effusive energy and real charm that's fruit-forward enough to sip on its own yet has sufficient spice and structure to stand up to grilled meats.

The Wine Spectator 89 Points | Snappy and briary, with user-friendly raspberry and green peppercorn flavors that end with zesty tannins. Drink now through 2030. 4,008 cases made.

Winemaker Description

The name "La Tremenda" references the name of the vineyard from which the grapes for this wine are grown and handharvested. Made entirely from mature Monastrell vines, carefullyraised in the harsh, arid landscape of Alicante. "The vine must suffer..." and here it does.

Bright ruby-red in color, this wine shows expressive notes of fresh black cherries and red berries mingled with hints of sweet spice, toast and cocoa. On the palate, this accessible red shows silky texture, liveliness and long length.

Pair it with pork chops Normandy, Kobe beef, or parmesan-crusted asparagus tips.

Memo Summary Notes

Pair With -

• Meats: Grilled hamburgers, pork chops (especially with savory sauces), Kobe beef, or leg of lamb.

• Vegetarian: Rich dishes like mushroom risotto or parmesan-crusted asparagus tips.

• Classic Spanish: Paella with meat, or aged Manchego cheese.

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada | Senior Wine Buyer | Xipella” refers to a local Catalan dialect spoken in the Conca de Barberà area. This blend of Samsó (Carignan) and Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with dark fruit — think blackberries, black cherries, and black plum — supported by vibrant acidity and a beautifully persistent finish. An ideal  companion for poultry stews, hanger steak, or grilled tuna.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaking and aging | The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature between 25 and 28 °C. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in new and used barrels for 12 to 16 months.

Tasting note | Red wine of intense colour. Powerful ripe fruit aroma, notes of mineral and oak barrel. In the mouth, it presents friendly and tempting, with smooth, well-integrated tannins and a long, persistent finish.

Type of vine | Vines located in the area of the cellar, at an altitude of 470 meters.

Memo Summary Notes

Samso, Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Clos Mont-Blanc Xipella Negre 2021 is a sophisticated red blend from the Conca de Barberà region in Catalonia, Spain. Known for its balance of indigenous and international varieties, this vintage offers a modern expression of a historic wine-growing area.

The Conca de Barberà DO is unique for its limestone soils and high-altitude vineyards (around 470 meters for this specific wine). This elevation provides a thermal contrast between day and night, which helps preserve the acidity and freshness of the grapes, preventing the wine from feeling overly heavy despite its ripeness.

Winemaker Description 

"Locos por el Vino” is a new project from Bodegas Alto Moncayo, aiming to expand their range with high-quality, modern and casual wines produced from the winery’s youngest vineyards, guaranteeing the continuity of the Alto Moncayo project for future generations to come. A local term used in the village of Borja, "Zismero" refers to one who is provocative, jovial, and mirthful, with a complexity and uniqueness that makes its audience think deeply from the pointed jocularity.

Warres · Quinta do Ataide · Vinha do Arco 2016

Blackcurrant leaf, floral bergamot and red currant lead into an elegantly structured palate. Silky eucalyptus and cherry notes meet milk-chocolate tannins, finishing with spice.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

Decanter World Wine Awards · 91 Points | Fresh blackcurrant leaf nose, floral bergamot, and red currant underneath. Elegantly structured palate, silky eucalyptus, cherry notes, milk chocolate tannins, spicy finish.

Wine Spectator · 89 Points | Tangy raspberry and ripe cherry flavors are well-spiced in this plush, medium-bodied red. Details of herb and mineral mark the energetic finish. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Cão. Drink now through 2025. 5,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. - Gillian Sciaretta

Winemaker Description

Forest aromas, a precise and discreet barrel note, red, enveloping and complex fruit, is a radiant wine that pairs well with the fruit with the acidity and leaves a delicious spicy trail as an aftertaste.

At a Glance

• Producer: Warres
• Wine: Quinta do Ataide, Vinha do Arco
• Vintage: 2016
• Appellation: Douro, Portugal
• Style: Red wine
• Size: 750ml

A structured, fruit-driven Douro red with floral lift, supple texture and a lingering spicy finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 95 Points | The 2022 Echezeaux Grand Cru is absolutely exquisite, not to mention a significant step up in the range. Impossibly silky tannins and deep, penetrating aromatics give the Echezeaux its seductive personality. Medium in body and polished, with phenomenal balance, the Echezeaux shows how compelling the vintage is. There is no heaviness at all, nor any sign of a growing season marked by severe heat and drought.

Winemaker Description 

With a more textured and intense character than Échezeaux, Grands-Échezeaux presents a rich, almost rustic profile. The wine offers a concentrated palate of dark fruits, with gamey nuances and bramble hints, wrapped in a structured yet velvety texture. It's a wine of depth and character, often described as having a "monastic" quality. It is “Grands” before being Échézeaux. It is a country gentleman, aristocrat and dreamer. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 98 Points | The iodine, blackberry and rose-stem character comes through clearly. Plenty of fruit and depth. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that caress the palate and provide endless flavors of Indian spices, flint, nutmeg and light crust. Such refinement and integrity. Drinkable now, but better in three or four years.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2023 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches (Domaine) is showing nicely, bursting with aromas of sweet berries, spices, orange zest and new oak. Medium to full-bodied, succulent and lively, with chalky grip on the finish, it will offer a broad drinking window.

Decanter 93 Points | Lovely cherry fruit with hints of lavender and rosemary. The texture is silky and dense, almost fat. There is more clay here, and less limestone than in Les Cras, and the tannic structure is not as firm. The grapes are from Drouhin's massive 6.75ha here, not far from Pommard; they are partially destemmed and fermented on native yeasts before ageing in cask (25% new) for 14–18 months.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points by Elaine Chukan Brown | Juicy, fresh and mouthwatering, this flavorful and friendly red delivers flavors of red plum, mixed berries, fennel, and a touch of sweet vanilla. 

Winemaker Description 

Alta Alella is the closest winery to Barcelona, located 2 kilometres from the Mediterranean between the towns of Alella and Tiana. It is a family-run project that began in 1991 with Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets and his wife Cristina Guillen. Now the estate is headed up by their daughter, Mireia.

Alella is one of the smallest appellations in Spain yet it possesses a fascinating terroirs that the Alta Alella team have harnessed in their journey to being recognised as the premier estate in the region. All the vines are planted on slopes and terraces overlooking the Mediterranean, between 100 and 250m above sea level. One of the key elements is the Sauló soil found throughout the vineyard.

Particular to this region, Sauló is an acidic and sandy soil with a low limestone content, low organic matter and good natural water drainage – ideal for the production of clean wines with a mineral edge.

Celler Balart Amfora Negre Terra Alta 2024 750ml

Experience the richness of Celler Balart Amfora Negre Terra Alta 2024, an exquisite wine that captures the essence of its region. This vintage offers a unique blend of local grapes, expertly crafted to showcase the rich terroir of Terra Alta in Catalonia, Spain. Celler Balart's dedication to quality and tradition is evident in every sip, delivering a delightful experience that wine enthusiasts will cherish. This wine is not just a drink; it's an invitation to explore the rich culinary landscape of Spain.

Amphora Fermentation

The "Amfora" in the name refers to the traditional amphora (clay vessel) fermentation process, an ancient winemaking technique that imparts unique mineral characteristics and texture to the wine. This method provides distinctive citrus fruits and mineral notes that complement the natural fruit character of the grapes.

Grape Variety

Garnatxa Negre (Grenache Noir)
This wine showcases the classic characteristics of Grenache, including apple, peach, and banana notes typical of the variety, enhanced by the amphora fermentation process.

Tasting Profile

Appearance: Clean and bright, intense cherry color. Deep ruby color
Aroma: Red and black fruits, licorice, mineral touches, slightly balsamic. Apple, peach, banana typical of Grenache, citrus fruits and minerals provided by the amphora
Palate: Voluminous, friendly, silky. Full-bodied with harmonious balance. Fine tannins and well-integrated acidity. Unctuous and greedy. Bold character with dark fruit flavors complemented by earthy undertones derived from amphora fermentation
Finish: Long and elegant finish. Smooth finish

Terra Alta Terroir

This vintage highlights the vibrant personality of grapes from the Terra Alta region in Catalonia, Spain. The wine embodies the spirit of the land, bringing forward flavors that are both distinct and memorable. The 2024 vintage showcases the winemaker's meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each bottle reflects the rich terroir of Terra Alta.

Traditional Winemaking Excellence

Celler Balart combines traditional amphora fermentation with expert winemaking to create wines that seamlessly blend fruity notes with depth and complexity. The amphora aging process adds unique mineral characteristics and texture, creating a wine with distinctive personality and artistry.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This full-bodied red pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes:

• Red meats and grilled meats
• Game meats
• Barbecue and roasts
• Hearty stews
• Cured cheeses and rich cheeses
• Risottos
• Seafood and blue fish
• White meats

Versatile for Every Occasion

Perfect for both casual gatherings and special celebrations, this wine adds a touch of sophistication to any occasion. Whether you're enjoying a quiet evening at home or celebrating with friends, Celler Balart Amfora Negre elevates your dining experience to new heights. Ideal for both seasoned wine drinkers and newcomers alike, this wine is sure to impress your palate.

Catalonian Winemaking Heritage

Celler Balart represents the artistry and passion of Catalonian winemaking. Each bottle reflects the dedication that goes into producing this remarkable wine, showcasing the unique characteristics of Terra Alta's terroir combined with ancient amphora fermentation techniques. Embrace the tradition and innovation that defines this exceptional Spanish red wine.

2024 Vintage Excellence

The 2024 vintage offers enticing aromas and a nuanced flavor profile that wine enthusiasts will cherish. With its deep ruby color, bold character, and smooth finish, this wine embodies excellence and rich flavor, making it a perfect choice for exploring the vibrant culinary landscape of Spain.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 94 Points | Aromas of redcurrants, flowers and spices, such as nutmeg. Some cherries, too. It’s full-bodied, yet racy and energetic. Chewy tannins. Structured. One of the best Cos Labory in a long time. This needs three or four years to come together.

Decanter 92 Points | A Cru Classé that in recent years has clearly been striving to catch up with its 1855 neighbours. It remains far less polished than the other classified growths in the appellation, but that gives it a charm all of its own. There are plenty of firm tannins here, with cassis and bilberry fruits, along with clear austerity that is going to need a few more years to soften. A serious wine with a sense of identity, takes its time to reveal its hand and may move up when retasted in bottle. Tasted twice one week apar

Vinous 92 Points | The 2019 Cos Labory remains rather brawny, but it certainly has a ton of character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice and scorched earth add to an impression of rusticity. Even so, there is plenty of depth and more than enough energy to support many years of fine drinking.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A classic Saint-Estèphe nose of darker currants, damp earth, leafy herbs, and cedar emerges from the 2019 Château Cos Labory, a medium-bodied, balanced 2019 with good mid-palate concentration, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. It deserves 3-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 15-20 years.

Pre-Arrival - Expected date for delivery and/or pick up Thursday February 12, 2026

Expert Comments

Isabel Ferrando’s reputation for outstanding wines has grown every vintage since her first release in 2003. As a woman owned business and winemaker, Isabel has built a tremendous reputation producing highly acclaimed wines. 

"Proprietress Isabel Ferrando has taken her Saint Prefert estate to France’s highest level, and she’s unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today, including both reds and whites.”   —Wine Critic - Jeb Dunnuck

"Hard work. Subtle tweaks. Responsible farming. An uncompromising dedication to quality. Isabel Ferrando keeps doing things the right way, and her wines are dramatic proof.” —James Molesworth,

Wine Spectator one thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” Jeb Dunuck.

THE WINE SPECTATOR 95 POINTS : One thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” Jeb Dunu Expressive, perfumed and ripe, with a glossy stream of bitter cherry and steeped plum anchored by bolts of iron. Warm spice, licorice, sanguine and grilled anise notes merge in, with a vivid flash of alpine herbs and singed alder smoke. A weighty, well-structured red that’s still unwinding yet is impressively approachable

JAMES SUCKLING 98 POINTS: Enormously deep and concentrated, but this is so subtle and defies easy description. The superfine tannins give this an incredibly fine texture, the richness building in the finish without adding anything to the impression of weight. From three old-vine grenache vineyards that have limestone, sand and galet soils. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

JEB DUNNUCK 97 POINTS: Black raspberries, ground pepper, white pepper, and sappy floral notes all make an appearance in the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Colombis, another remarkable wine from this family. With medium to full-bodied richness, it's incredibly well-balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. As with the estate’s other cuvées, it reminds me of their 2020. As usual, this cuvée is 100% Grenache that’s from a mix of three parcels (Rayas, Les Roues, and Colombis). It was not destemmed and was brought up in a mix of concrete, foudre, and clay jars.

VINOUS 96 POINTS: The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis is magnificent, bursting from the glass with prominent rose petal, crushed violets, strawberry compote, spicy licorice, dried herbs and minty shadings. Enveloped in velvety tannins, the perfumed 2023 is shaping up to be a wildly alluring Colombis, closing with a subtle phenolic kick on the focused finish. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS: A pure Grenache Noir planted in the north part of the appellation and vinified with 30% whole bunches, the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis has turned out beautifully. Evoking aromas of rose, dark cherries, spices and dark berries, it’s medium- to full-bodied, seamless and satiny with a beautifully ethereal finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 100 Points | The 2022 Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru is a real head-turner. What a wine! As is so often the case, Romanée St. Vivant is not an obvious wine, rather it is a Burgundy of detail, of understatement, of total class. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Silky tannins wrap around a core of red-toned fruit, mint, white pepper, blood orange and exotic spice.

Decanter 97 Points | The Romanée-St-Vivant has developed more complexity since bottling, with a savoury, almost gamey edge to the lush berry fruit aromas and a hint of spice. The grip and freshness of the wine are impressive and seem to carry this wine to a new level of intensity. Although this wine had originally seemed ethereal and silky, the substantial nature of the structure is now evident, aided perhaps by the stricter selection. Bertrand de Villaine confirms that two parcels in this vineyard were pulled up due to issues with the rootstock, leaving them 23,699 bottles in 2022.

The Wine Spectator 97 Points | Shy, suggesting cherry, strawberry and spice flavors. Nonetheless, there is plenty of structure and length.

Expert Review -Vintage 2020

Falstaff 92 Points | Bright, radiant ruby red. Elegant nose, reminiscent of cut flowers, raspberry and some paprika powder. Delicate, youthful on the palate, with a pleasant acidity. The finish is long and mineral. Clean mouthfeel. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Jasper Morris 93 Points | An attractive mid crimson colour. A fine fresh bouquet, elegant fruit, not too demonstrative, but with a graceful detailed red fruit, alpine strawberry and little raspberry notes. Very nicely put together, all about the fruit more than the structure. Drink from 2030-2037.

Winemaker Description 

Supreme elegance! Beautiful color, with intense and bright reflections. The diversity of the aromas is striking: wild cherry, nutmeg, camphor wood, fine leather... Later on, the wine takes on a subtle aroma of truffle, producing the most varied palette. With its perfect balance between tannin and acidity, the wine has a fleshy, sturdy body. Powerful and long aftertaste. A wealth of harmonious sensations characterizes this great Burgundy.

This wine is a testament to elegance and complexity, with an intense bouquet of violets and spices, leading to a palate of profound silkiness. It exhibits an ethereal balance of fruit, earth, and minerality, where each sip reveals layers of flavor from dark cherries to subtle truffles. The finesse and depth of this wine make it a benchmark for Pinot Noir, showcasing the ultimate expression of its terroir. "As if, in this square of earth, the gods had bequeathed us a memory of the fascinating vestige of a timeless perfection.” — Richard Olney. Surface area: 1.81 hectares.

Winemaker Description 

A wine of great elegance. Pale yellow colour with greenish hints. White flower aromas are detected on the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, round, well balanced, with good stuffing. The fruit flavours are enhanced by intense mineral notes, evolving towards slightly smoky tones. A beautiful aftertaste.

The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Pirrera is impossible to ignore. It blends crushed blackberries with lavender pastille and hints of candied citrus and spice. This is zesty, with a reverberation of brisk acidity and masses of mineral-doused wild berry fruits. The 2022 finishes with medium length and a chalky concentration, leaving the cheeks puckered with youthful poise as hints of tart blackberry slowly taper off.

Winemaker Description 

Kimberly Vineyard is the epitome of Goldilocks-climate Merlot. It marries the lavish, ripe fruit of a warm site with the elegance and structure of a cool locale.

Dominant character traits include blackberry, anise, cassis and dried currants. Below that is a bed of juicy black fruit and supple, silky tannins. While it drinks well now, this Merlot will continue to evolve and improve over the next decade.

Winemaker Description 

Using grapes grown in Mendocino County’s rugged coastal mountains, Edmeades crafts bold, intense Zinfandels of distinctive character and personality. We work side by side with a small group of growers, who year after year produce some of Mendocino County’s most highly-prized grapes. We prefer a delicate touch in our cellar, allowing each vineyard to be fully expressed in the wines we make

Winemaker Description 

Also known as Blaüfrankisch; medium body with fruit driven aromas and supporting hints of oak.

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The Musar Jeune (formally known as Cuvée Rouge) is the second wine of Château Musar. This red has some spicy Syrah added to the regular mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault. Great dark cherry fruit on the palate with palpable yet approachable tannins.

Winemaker Description 

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LFG represents the moment that Josh and Drew decided to take a leap into the world of Oregon Pinot Noir with the beautiful Estate Coulee vineyard as the backbone of their program.

ABOUT COULEE ESTATE (EOLA-AMITY HILLS AVA)

Our new estate vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills is extremely exciting. We were fortunate to be able to acquire this piece of land in 2021 from Mimi Casteel who took such great care of the earth and vines in her inspiring practice of regenerative farming.

The site itself has such a diverse array of aspects, soil types, and clonal selection that
we are ecstatic to get to know the site and make our estate grown, single vineyard
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc.

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Locos por el Vino” is a new project from Bodegas Alto Moncayo, aiming to expand their range with high-quality, modern and casual wines produced from the winery’s youngest vineyards, guaranteeing the continuity of the Alto Moncayo project for future generations to come. 

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Great aromatic intensity of ripe black fruits, blackberries, prunes, black liquorice and spices. The palate is powerful, with big sweet tannins; creamy mouthfeel with a round, long and silky finish.

Locos por el Vino” is a new project from Bodegas Alto Moncayo, aiming to expand their range with high-quality, modern and casual wines produced from the winery’s youngest vineyards, guaranteeing the continuity of the Alto Moncayo project for future generations to come. A tribute to the winery founder & majority owner, Jose Miguel Sanmartin, "Gruñón" is a term for a person who is grumpy, yet has a twinkle in their eye—a duality that brings complexity and depth.