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Jo Landron Amphibolite Muscadet Sèvre et Maine — Loire Valley 2025

Jo Landron has been farming the upper slopes of the Sèvre River near Nantes since 1990, and in that time he has quietly become one of the most important voices in French natural viticulture. His conversion to organic farming began in 1999, biodynamic certification followed in 2011, and the results are impossible to argue with. The Amphibolite — named for the metamorphic rock that defines its terroir — is the entry point to the Landron lineup and one of the most honest expressions of Melon de Bourgogne you will find at any price.

The 2025 is everything Muscadet should be: citrusy, saline, and alive. The nose is clean and precise — lemon zest, green apple, crushed oyster shell, and a faint floral lift. On the palate, the wine is lean and focused, with a bright, almost electric acidity and a long, mineral finish with that signature oceanic salinity Jo calls "free-spirited." Whole-bunch pressed, wild yeast fermented, aged six months on fine lees in glass-tiled concrete vats, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

"A wine best expressed in its youth — citrusy and sizzling with a lovely salinity on the finish." — Jo Landron

• Producer: Domaine de la Louvetrie, Jo Landron, Nantes, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
• Terroir: Metamorphic amphibolite (gabbro-derived rock)
• Varietal: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
• Farming: Certified Organic (EcoCert) & Biodynamic
• Vinification: Whole-bunch direct press, wild yeast fermentation, no chaptalization, no fining or filtration
• Aging: 6 months on fine lees in glass-tiled concrete vats
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, green apple, oyster shell, white flower, saline mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled sole, moules marinières, fresh chèvre, seafood crudo

The gold standard for high-energy oceanic white wine — Jo Landron's Amphibolite is Muscadet at its most alive.

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.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Vinous 90 Points | The 2020 Citran is fortunately showing less reduction on the nose than it did from barrel, revealing blackberry and briary scents, touches of graphite and pressed iris flower. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Moderate depth, filling out nicely towards the finish. This is a fresh and tensile Citran that should age well over the next 15-20 years.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Red and black fruits, spice, saddle leather, and tobacco leaf notes all emerge from the 2020 Château Citran, a rock-solid, medium-bodied, balanced Haut-Médoc. It has the pure, focused, nicely structured style of the vintage and is going to evolve for 15 years or more.

James Suckling 89+ Points | A firm, racy wine with crushed-berry, walnut and spice character. Medium body and firm finish. A little austere now.

Memo Summary Notes

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

The 2020 Château Citran is a "rock-solid" representative of the Haut-Médoc, benefiting significantly from what many critics consider a legendary Bordeaux vintage. Historically one of the oldest estates in the Médoc, Citran is known for delivering classic, structured Left Bank profiles without the "Grand Cru" price tag.

Château Citran is currently owned by the Merlaut family (who also own the famed Chasse-Spleen). Their expertise in the Haut-Médoc shows through in the 2020—it offers the "saddle leather" and "cedar wood" complexity usually reserved for much more expensive bottles from nearby Margaux.

Pairing: This is a classic "meat and potatoes" wine. It pairs exceptionally well with grilled steak, lamb chops, or a hearty mushroom stew.

A 93-Point Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel from One of Bordeaux's Most Historic Estates

Château du Taillan is a classified French historical monument owned by the Cruse family, one of Bordeaux's most storied dynasties. Their 2019 Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel is a textbook expression of what makes the 2019 vintage so exceptional — richly textured, concentrated, and built for the cellar. A Merlot-led blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this is classic Bordeaux at outstanding value.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Wine Enthusiast — 93 Points (Roger Voss): “Richly textured with dense black fruits and considerable potential. Power and concentration will allow it to age well. Drink from 2026.”

Tasting Notes

A classic Haut-Médoc with dense black fruit character, robust structure, and elegant tannins. Rich and concentrated on the palate with excellent aging potential — a benchmark Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel from a superb Bordeaux vintage.

Pairings: Grilled steak, roast beef, lamb, duck confit, roasted game birds, and aged French cheeses.

Product Details

• Vintage: 2019
• Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
• Appellation: Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux
• Classification: Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
• Region: Bordeaux, France
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Producer: Château du Taillan (Cruse Family)

Elena Walch Vigna Kastelaz Gewürztraminer Alto Adige 2025 is an exceptional single-vineyard white wine from one of Italy's most celebrated estates. Considered an international benchmark for Gewürztraminer, this iconic wine has helped earn Elena Walch the title "Queen of Gewürztraminer," reflecting her pioneering contribution to the reputation of Alto Adige's finest white wines.

The wine originates from the prestigious Vigna Kastelaz vineyard, dramatically situated above the historic wine village of Tramin, widely regarded as the birthplace of Gewürztraminer. This extraordinary south-facing vineyard, with slopes exceeding 63%, is cultivated on narrow terraces where low yields, meticulous hand harvesting, and exceptional growing conditions produce grapes of remarkable concentration and character.

The vineyard's distinctive limestone-rich soils, interspersed with sand and rocky deposits, combine with warm Mediterranean sunshine and cooling alpine breezes to create wines of aromatic intensity, freshness, and elegance.

Tasting Notes

The Gewürztraminer Vigna Kastelaz displays a rich, brilliant golden-yellow color and an enchanting, complex bouquet of fragrant rose petals, exotic lychee, delicate acacia honey, and subtle mineral nuances.

On the palate, the wine is expressive and beautifully structured, combining aromatic richness with stimulating acidity and harmonious spicy freshness. Layers of floral and exotic fruit character unfold gracefully, leading to a delicate, juicy, and lingering finish.

Despite its aromatic intensity, this Gewürztraminer maintains remarkable finesse, freshness, and balance, making it a sophisticated expression of one of Alto Adige's most distinctive grape varieties.

Winemaking & Vineyard

The grapes are carefully selected and harvested by hand from the steep, south-facing terraces of Vigna Kastelaz. The fully ripe fruit is picked in two passes to achieve optimal maturity and aromatic complexity.

Following approximately six hours of cold skin contact, the grapes undergo gentle pressing and natural clarification. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at approximately 18°C (64°F), followed by several months of maturation on fine lees to develop texture, complexity, and harmony.

Food Pairing

An outstanding companion to lobster, crab, shrimp, and other shellfish, as well as aromatic Asian cuisine, Thai dishes, and flavorful cheeses, particularly blue cheese. Its floral complexity and elegant structure also make it a memorable wine for special occasions.

An iconic single-vineyard Gewürztraminer that beautifully captures the character of Alto Adige, combining aromatic richness, alpine freshness, and extraordinary finesse.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

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

Winemaker Description 

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

Viña San Pedro · 0-61 Red Blend · 2023

Founded in 1865, Viña San Pedro is a heritage exporter of Chilean wine and a key winery in the country, with 1,200 hectares under vine in the Curicó Valley.

Winemaker Description

Discover this smooth and velvety wine. Expressive fruity aromas coming from raspberry and cherry can be found as well as smooth notes of caramel, toffee and vanilla.
— Viña San Pedro

Specs

• Producer: Viña San Pedro (est. 1865)
• Wine: 0-61 Red Blend
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Central Valley, Chile
• Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah
• Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description

This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 99- 100 Points | A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. (2020). 

Robert Parker 96-98 Points | A legendary Haut-Bailly in the making, the 2020 sports a dense purple color to go with powerful notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, scorched earth, and graphite. Reminding me of the 2010, it takes plenty of air to show at its best yet is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, massive of ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. It’s one of the most structured, powerful Haut-Bailly I’ve ever tasted, yet it still has the classic elegance, nuance, and length of this terrific terroir. It will need 5-7 years (or more) of bottle age but will have 50 years of overall longevity. The 2020 is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. (2020). 

Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 Points | Deep, rich and explosive, the 2020 Haut-Bailly is magnificent from the very first taste. Dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spice give the 2020 a level of unctuousness that is absolutely thrilling. Readers should be patient, as the 2020 is going to need time to come around. Yields are down 25% from 2019, and that richness comes through loud and clear. (2020). 

Vinous 95-97 Points | (Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, Red) Rich in texture and colour, this has clear layers and complexity, a wine that you want to take your time with, slow down and enjoy. One that will take its time to age also. This has a precision and a clarity to the aromatics, and a gentle buzz of minerality that gives a physical reaction in the mouth. Less exuberant than the 2018 or 2019, making this a vintage that suits the style of Haut-Bailly. A slight austerity to the tannins on the finish gives a blueberry redcurrant edge. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend (now around eight years old), usually co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon (sometimes with Cabernet Franc). IPT similar to 2016, 2010, 2005, but with a softness that comes from extremely ripe tannins. Strong potential for upscoring when it bottle. (Drink between 2030-2050). (2020),

Joseph Phelps · Cabernet Sauvignon · Napa Valley · 2022

Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022 combines lifted dark cherry and plum aromas with cedar, fresh herbs and supple tannins. A Cabernet-led Bordeaux-variety blend, it balances plush fruit and rounded texture with aromatic freshness and harmony.

Producer & Legacy

Joseph Phelps Vineyards describes its story as a relentless pursuit of excellence, honoring the past while exploring new possibilities. Across half a century and three generations, the team has carried forward Joe Phelps’s commitment to winemaking, gracious hospitality and sustainability efforts in its vineyards and wineries.

The winery’s reputation is closely linked to Insignia, introduced in 1974 as California’s first proprietary red Bordeaux-style blend. Joe chose the name to represent the finest lots of each vintage, emphasizing blending rather than varietal designation as a measure of quality. Insignia’s 2002 vintage was named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2005, and its 1991, 1997, 2002 and 2007 vintages received 100-point Wine Advocate scores. Robert Parker described it as “one of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blends.” These honors refer to Insignia, not this Cabernet Sauvignon bottling.

Joe built the winery’s early reputation on Cabernet Sauvignon and Rhône-style wines. Its portfolio now spans Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast vineyards, giving the winemaking team opportunities to explore both regions.

Tasting Notes & Winemaking

Red and black fruits, dark cherry and damson plum are joined by cedar, vanilla, tobacco and graphite notes. The palate offers rounded texture, softly integrated tannins and an approachable character. The blend is led by 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, and is raised in French and American oak.

Expert Reviews · 2022

James Suckling, 94 Points
Bright, lifted, black and red fruits with aromas of dark cherries, damson plums, cedar box and fresh herbs. The full-bodied palate has a supple, rounded mouthfeel and softly integrated tannins. 91% cabernet sauvignon with smatterings of the other main Bordeaux varieties. Lively and approachable yet plush with plenty of years ahead.

Vinous Media, 92 Points
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is terrific, especially for a wine of its level and production. Aromatic, medium in body and impeccably balanced, the 2022 is seriously impressive. It is perhaps a bit more floral and lighter than most years, but its balance and overall harmony are beyond reproach. This is a strong showing. New oak is 45%, 27% French and 18% American.

Jeb Dunnuck, 91 Points
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is based on 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot brought up in French and American oak. Classy red and black fruits, vanilla oak, tobacco, and graphite notes all define the aromatics, and it's ripe, rounded, and nicely textured, with good mid-palate density and a good finish.

The Wine Advocate, 90 Points
The Joseph Phelps 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is dominated by fruit from Yountville and Suscol; only 21% of the blend is from growers, as there's a push toward estate fruit. As always, there's some American oak in the mix, but that proportion is evolving downward. Redcurrants and cherries are joined by gentle dusty earth notes and hints of vanilla and cedar on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is a bit more dusty and drying than the 2021, yet it remains soft and approachable.

Pairing Suggestions

Try with grilled steak, roast lamb, braised beef or mushroom dishes to complement the dark fruit, cedar and savory notes.

Details

• Producer: Joseph Phelps
• Vintage: 2022
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: United States
• Region: California
• Appellation: Napa Valley, Napa County
• Primary grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot; remaining varieties Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot
• Type: Red wine
• Oak: French and American

Mineral · Fresh · Elegant · Precise · Persistent

A beautifully structured Premier Cru Chablis with orchard fruit, floral lift and classic mineral tension.

Domaine William Fèvre’s Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2023 is a refined expression of one of Chablis’ most respected Premier Cru vineyards. Montmains is known for producing wines with excellent freshness, firm mineral structure and the ability to develop beautifully with time.

Under longtime winemaker Didier Séguier, William Fèvre brings together fruit from multiple parcels across Montmains, including sections of Forêts and Butteaux. The result is a wine that combines the vineyard’s characteristic restraint and mineral grip with impressive depth, elegance and persistence. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The 2023 vintage opens with delicate aromas of white blossom, freshly cut golden apple and subtle brioche, joined by notes of green apple, gooseberry, acacia flower and gentle spice.

On the palate, the wine is lively, fresh and beautifully balanced. Bright orchard fruit is carried by crisp acidity, while a firm mineral backbone adds structure and definition. There is excellent substance beneath the freshness, giving the wine both immediate appeal and the potential to develop additional complexity in the cellar.

The finish is long, precise and persistent, with a cool mineral character and subtle saline quality that are unmistakably Chablis.

Food Pairing

Pair with oysters, scallops, crab, lobster and grilled white fish, as well as roast chicken, veal, creamy seafood dishes and fresh goat cheese. Its combination of freshness and structure also makes it an excellent partner for dishes finished with light butter or cream sauces.

Serve lightly chilled to allow the wine’s floral aromas, orchard fruit and mineral complexity to fully emerge.

Professional Ratings

95 Decanter Magazine: In the hands of Fèvre winemaker Didier Séguier, premier cru Montmains has a certain initial reserve. But with time, the green apple and gooseberry notes, touched with acacia blossoms and spice, open up on the palate. The texture is lively and fresh, yet there is substance here as well. The grapes are assembled from 10 parcels throughout Montmains, including some in Forêts and Butteaux. Séguier explains that Butteaux is deep in the valley and further from the Serein so it ripens later. The grapes are fermented in tank and older casks for 40–50% of the harvest.

94 Jasper Morris: Assembled earlier today, so cloudy and this procedure also masks the nose. Classic Montmains behind, with the usual reductive grip, yet also some elegance, very persistent. The lees were first class, says Didier Seguier and this certainly has the makings of a first class Montmains. Barrel sample: 91-94

94 Wine Enthusiast: Delicate aromas of white blossom, brioche, freshly cut golden apple, and dried grass draw in the nose with feathery opulence. The palate is rich with citrusy acidity that plays second fiddle to fall-rip- ened orchard fruit that washes across wet stone on the finish. Editor’s Choice.

93 James Suckling: Lovely elegance with a chalky, marine-like character to the nose, along with lime and minerals. Medium weight, with chalky notes and some white fruit leading to a pithy, lightly salty, bitter finish. Very attractive.

92 Wine Spectator: There’s a sleek feel to this white despite its rich texture, revealing lemon, apple and flint flavors, plus a hint of honey. Harmonious and enticing, this ends with citrus and stone elements. Shows fine expression and length.

The Style

Fresh, elegant and mineral-driven — a classic Premier Cru Chablis with beautiful tension, depth and a long, precise finish.

Château Lilian Ladouys — Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel 2020

Château Lilian Ladouys is one of Saint-Estèphe’s most exciting estates — and the 2020 vintage may be its finest hour. Owned by the Lorenzetti family and now classified as Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel (the top tier of the new classification), Lilian Ladouys consistently punches well above its weight, delivering Classified Growth quality at a fraction of the price. The 2020 vintage — one of Bordeaux’s greatest in a generation — is big, bold, and built for the long haul.

Dark fruits, damp earth, truffle, cassis, licorice, and a deft touch of creamy oak define the nose. On the palate, powerful yet polished tannins frame a concentrated, medium-to-full-bodied wine with exceptional length and a racy, structured finish. Already showing complexity, it will evolve gracefully for 10–15 years and beyond.

Wine Enthusiast 93–95 • Decanter 93 • Jeb Dunnuck 92 • James Suckling 92 • Robert Parker 91+

• Producer: Château Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
• Vintage: 2020
• Classification: Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
• Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Cassis, dark fruit, truffle, damp earth, licorice, creamy oak, powdery tannins
• Cellar Potential: Best after 2025–2027; will evolve through 2035+
• Best Paired With: Roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck confit, truffle dishes, aged hard cheeses

One of the clear leaders of the Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel category — Lilian Ladouys 2020 is a Saint-Estèphe benchmark at a remarkable price.

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 2022

James Suckling 93 Points | A sleek, polished and well-balanced wine that shows hints of mint and eucalyptus. Black cherry, blackberry, black currant and bay leaf nuances. Contains 1% merlot and is aged in 15% new French oak. Contains a majority of relatively cool-climate Coombsville grapes. Full-bodied. Drink or hold.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Deeply colored ruby, with aromas of violets, dark fruits and a pleasing waft of forest floor. Flavors reveal dark chocolate and cocoa spun through with spice and a sip of black coffee. This is a friendly while poised Cabernet Sauvignon with plenty of fruit that reveal layers of interest with further sipping.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | Crossbarn's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes predominantly from Paul Hobbs's Coombsville vineyard, augmented by some purchased fruit from Calistoga. Matured in 15% new French oak, it offers up scents of black cherries, cassis and suede, alongside hints of cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, the wine is nicely smooth and supple, even plush, really well-integrated and long. It's a terrific value in Napa Cabernet.

Winemaker Description 

The ‘cross’ barn served as a childhood meeting place on Paul Hobbs’ family’s more than one hundred-and-fifty-year-old fruit farm situated in Niagara County, New York. Named after this gathering point, Crossbarn honors the values of hard work and integrity instilled in Paul from his childhood. Committed to high-quality, sustainably farmed vineyards, our wines offer a bright and youthful expression of fruit blended from Northern California’s finest appellations.

Spicy nose with hints of black pepper and scrubland. Licorice, plum, tobacco. On the palate, red plum, cherry, friendly, fresh, very long.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Syrah and Petit Verdot

The province of Malaga in Andalusia, known mainly for its sweet wines such as Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel, also grows red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, although to a lesser extent compared to other wine regions. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description 

With a straw yellow colour, Yzaguirre Blanco Clasico Vermouth has an intense aroma with herby and spicy notes. Mild balsamic touches give it a pleasant and very unique structure. Fresh and smooth in the mouth and very well balanced, it has notes of vanilla and cinnamon.

Excellent as an everyday aperitif. Serve with 2 anchovy-stuffed olives, 2 or 3 ice cubes and a twist of orange. Serve very chilled.

Memo Summary Notes

The Yzaguirre Blanco Clásico Vermouth is a well-regarded example of the Spanish style of white vermouth, produced by Bodegas Yzaguirre, a house with a long history in the Catalan region (between Reus and Tarragona) dating back to 1884.

Yzaguirre's vermouths are made using traditional, artisanal methods and a blend of over 80 aromatic herbs and spices that are macerated (soaked) in a white wine base.

Cocktails: It works excellently as the Bianco/Blanc component in various cocktails, often where a sweet, less bitter white vermouth is desired:

• White Negroni (often with Gin, and a bitter like Suze or Luxardo Bitter Bianco).

• Martini variations (as a sweeter alternative to Dry Vermouth).

• V&S (Vermouth and Soda): Simple, refreshing, and popular in Spain.

  
  

   

Expert Review

Burghound Allen Meadows 93 Points | Much more layered aromas are comprised by notes of wet stone, citrus confit, Granny Smith apple and pretty spice wisps. The dense but sleek and highly energetic larger-bodied flavors display impressive power and length on the compact, austere and impeccably balanced finale. This is excellent and a wine that is built to repay extended keeping.

Winemaker Description

We embraced the structure up front when making this wine because we wanted a strong phenolic profile to bind with and stabilize the tannin. Baking spices (clove and cinnamon) with a kiss of oak.

Ripe black fruit on the palate, black currant and blackberry. A hint of vanilla and smooth tannins on the plush finish.

#1 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025  |  #8 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of the World 2025

Château Giscours, a Grand Cru Classé in 1855, is one of Margaux’s most storied estates — and the 2022 vintage may be its finest hour. With almost 60% of the blend drawn from vines over 50 years old, and a historic yield of just 27 hl/ha, this is a wine of extraordinary depth, precision, and generational ambition.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2022

98 pts — James Suckling: “Stunning aromas of blackcurrants, dark mushrooms and black cherries with forest-floor notes. Full body with fine, caressing tannins and dark, flavorful fruit. The tannins are very intense and structural, spreading across the palate in layers. Plenty of energy and verve. This has gravity, too. Best after 2029.”

97+ pts — Jeb Dunnuck: “Packed with cassis, black cherries, violets, and graphite-like aromatics. Concentrated and intense, with beautifully ripe tannins, a pure, graceful mouthfeel, and a long, structured finish. Serious depth with remarkable balance.”

96 pts — Wine Advocate: “Deep bouquet of sweet berries, mint, rose petals and pencil shavings. Textural and enveloping, built around lively acids and sweet powdery tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Why is the 2022 so good? Almost 60% of the blend derives from vines over 50 years old — in a vintage that favored deep, well-established root systems.”

96 pts — Decanter: “Seriously impressive and beguiling — one of the most elegant Giscours ever. Gorgeous clarity and purity, gentle seduction, fresh and lifted, fragrant and juicy with textured tannins. Elegant, finessed, subtle confidence with cool minerality throughout. A compelling wine. Possible upscore in bottle.”

95 pts — Wine Spectator: “Warmed cassis and plum notes, with lilac, violet and iris accents. A flash of black tea on the finish, along with a beguiling, cashmere-like mouthfeel. A pitch-perfect example of the vintage profile.”

• Appellation: Margaux AOC, Bordeaux
• Blend: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
• Vintage: 2022
• Ageing: 17 months, 50% new oak
• Yield: 27 hl/ha — lowest in estate history
• Drink: Best after 2029 | Will age beautifully for decades
• 750ml | Serve at 60–65°F

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 99 Points | Colgin's 2021 IX Estate is a rich, opulent example, with layers of ripe black cherries and dark chocolate punctuated by hints of sage and bay leaf, plus some vaguely floral notes (violets?). Full-bodied, concentrated, velvety and long, it's another terrific wine that showcases the potential of Pritchard Hill, the investment by the owners and the talent of the winemaking team.

James Suckling 99 Points | Red currant, lead pencil and terra cotta aromas with some bay leaf and sage. Full-bodied with tight, firm tannins that are polished and very fine. Turns to graphite. Extremely long, refined, polished and exquisite. Best after 2028.

98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | I’d wager a Napa Valley legend in the making, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon IX Estate comes from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill, and if there was ever a classification of terroirs in the valley, this would check in near the top of the list. Deep purple-hued, with awesome aromatics of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and subtle floral hints, this has that rare mix of power and elegance that defines so many great wines. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, it has no shortage of structure and is going to need 7-8 years, if not a decade, to hit full maturity, where it will hold for 2-3 decade.

98 Points Vinous | The 2021 IX Estate is such an elegant wine. Sleek, aromatic and refined, the 2021 is one of the most polished young wines I have tasted from this site. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint abound. Silky and delineated, the 2021 is exceptionally beautiful and balanced. Clean saline notes and veins of tannin extend the explosive, sublime finish. 

Winemaker Description 

One of the "cult" producers to crop up in the early 1990s, Colgin Cellars' first vintage was in 1992, with fruit purchased from the Herb Lamb Vineyard, located on the lower slopes of Howell Mountain, just low enough not to be part of the Howell Mountain AVA. Colgin would later go on to buy land and develop vineyards at Tychson Hill (westside Saint Helena, purchased 1996) and IX Estate (Pritchard Hill, purchased in 1998). In 2017, Ann Colgin and her husband, Joe Wender, sold a controlling interest in Colgin Cellars to LVMH but remain active in the business.

Today, Colgin owns six acres of vines at Tychson Hill and 20 acres of vines at IX Estate, with 11 more acres there currently being developed. Cariad comes primarily from the Abreu-farmed Madrona Ranch, on the western side of Saint Helena. Director of Winemaking Allison Tauziet has been with Colgin since 2005, when she joined as assistant winemaker, so she is nearing 20 years of experience with these wines.

To put the new-release 2021s in perspective, Colgin, Wender and Tauziet presented three vintages each of the four wines reviewed this issue—2016, 2018 and 2021. I guess it will surprise no one that these are all gorgeous wines, given the positive press and numerous accolades bestowed on previous vintages, but it is encouraging to see that success and age hasn't slowed down the Colgin team's pursuit of excellence. I've included my ratings and reviews of the older vintages so readers can compare my impressions to those of my predecessor. Like many other producers, Colgin bottled no wines in 2020.