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Inventory updated: Wed, Sep 09, 2026 04:02 PM cst
2022 Peter Michael Winery Ma Danseuse Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2022
Region: USA Red
Color/Type: Red
Size: 750 ML
Tasting Notes:
VM 97 (7/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is the most exuberant and packed of these Pinots Noirs from Peter Michael. It is also the wine that made me notice these wines when I tasted the debut 2009s prior to release. Plush contours frame a core of black cherry fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and blood orange. The French oak is already totally integrated, another sign of an important wine in the making. (Drink between 2027-2038). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (3/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse begins with youthful new oak spice that gives way to intense black cherry, cranberry, Earl Grey tea and wildflower aromas. The palate is concentrated yet weightless, its highly perfumed flavors structured by silky tannins and succulent acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 453 cases were made.
JD 96 (7/2025): From a cooler, later ripening site in Fort Ross-Seaview, the 2022 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is a saturated red hue and is lush with a sapid aromatic profile of cherry liqueur, crushed flowers, pine resin, and sappy herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a broader structure, with ripe tannins and darker underpinnings. It’s a richly styled wine but has good clarity. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Peter Michael Winery |
2022 |
Clos Du Ciel Pinot Noir  |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96 (7/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Clos Du Ciel is magenta with a purple-ish tint in the glass and is enveloping with rich, layered aromas of mint, red plum, wild herbs, and nearly iodine notes. Leaning toward full-bodied, it’s also the most savory through the palate, with rich, ripe tannin, a rounded mouthfeel, and a long finish. It’s highly complex and layered, packed with intensity that continues to unfold rapidly in the glass. It’s going to offer a good deal of longevity and is a more contemplative wine in the range. Drink 2026-2045. Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Clos du Ciel is a tiny bottling of just 266 cases, about half of the normal production. Bold, incisive tannins enshroud a core of black fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, rose petal and a kiss of new French oak. This brooding, tannic Pinot needs a few years to come together. Today, it is decidedly imposing in feel. Give this time to unwind. (Drink between 2027-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
1996 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (1/2000): The powerhouse, opaque purple/blue-colored 1996 Les Pavots is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The nose offers up blackberry, licorice, cassis, and pain grille aromas. The superb extract, well-defined personality, and smoky, licorice, Asian spice, and blackberry flavors provide a thrilling tasting experience. It was bottled with neither fining nor filtration. There are approximately 2,800 cases of this fabulous effort. Anticipated maturity: now-2025. |
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|
1996 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend Slightly Depressed Cork |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (1/2000): The powerhouse, opaque purple/blue-colored 1996 Les Pavots is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The nose offers up blackberry, licorice, cassis, and pain grille aromas. The superb extract, well-defined personality, and smoky, licorice, Asian spice, and blackberry flavors provide a thrilling tasting experience. It was bottled with neither fining nor filtration. There are approximately 2,800 cases of this fabulous effort. Anticipated maturity: now-2025. |
|
|
2005 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2007): The 2005 Les Pavots (3,600 cases of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot) is a sensational wine, with a style that suggests a hypothetical blend of a great St.-Emilion and Pomerol. Chocolatey cassis notes intermixed with incense, licorice, and a hint of black olive are present in this wine. When it hits the palate, it comes across as very Pomerol-like, with lushness, full body, and opulence. The tannins are sweet, the pH high, and the wine gorgeously full, pure, dense, and long. It’s a terrific example of non-interventionalist winemaking that has turned out a beautiful, silky-textured wine that should age effortlessly for 15+ years. Like so many 2005s, this wine has really put on weight since I tasted it last year. |
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|
2006 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2008): The 2006 Les Pavots (a 2,730-case blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) exhibits big notes of chocolate fudge intermixed with dark berry fruit, forest floor, underbrush, and some smoky oak. The wine is full-bodied, with remarkable intensity, low acidity, and a fleshy, opulent mouthfeel. This wine should drink well for 15-20+ years.
VM 94 (6/2009): (77% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc, 8% merlot and 2% petit verdot) Glass-staining ruby. Powerful aromas of red- and blackcurrant, with deeper cherry compote, tobacco and candied licorice emerging with air. Very rich but surprisingly graceful, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors, velvety texture and a suave floral pastille quality. Tightens up on the finish, which repeats the redcurrant and licorice notes and simply refuses to let up. This wine's depth and linear character are something else. There is more cabernet sauvignon in this Pavots than in any previous bottling, according to Nick's brother Luc, who still consults here. |
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|
2008 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2011): Peter Michael’s Bordeaux program is built around their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, Les Pavots. The 2008 Les Pavots, a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot, offers up notes of roasted coffee, cocoa, chocolate fudge, black currants, licorice and a hint of truffles. This full-bodied, beautifully rich red boasts an opulent texture, impressive purity and a long finish. Impressively made with impeccable attention to detail (it is sorted berry by berry rather than grape bunch by grape bunch), this 3,500-case cuvee should drink well for two decades or more. Quality-wise, the 2008 is just a notch behind the stratospheric 2007.
VM 94 (6/2011): Glass-staining ruby. Alluring aromas of red- and blackcurrant, cherry compote, incense and pipe tobacco. Lush and creamy on entry, then firmer in the middle, offering sweet dark fruit flavors complicated by notes of candied rose, licorice and smoky herbs. Supple and palate-staining wine with superb finishing clarity and lingering sweetness. |
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|
2009 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2012): The 2009 Les Pavots is absolutely fabulous. Mocha, espresso, spices, plums and blackberries are just some of the many notes that jump from the glass in this seamless, striking wine. The 2009 boasts exceptional textural finesse and tremendous class. In 2009 Les Pavots includes 22% Cabernet Franc, one of the highest percentages ever. It all works beautifully. The 2009 is firing on all cylinders. All of the vineyards in Les Pavots are now over 20 years old. In 2009 the blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2024.
VM 94 (5/2012): (a blend of 66% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 2% petit verdot): Opaque ruby. Pungent, assertive aromas of dried cherry, cassis, pipe tobacco, vanilla and woodsmoke, with a sexy floral accent emerging with air. Juicy and sharply focused, offering bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors brightened by a spicy element. Fine-grained tannins add shape and gentle grip to the very long, appealingly sweet finish. There are 3,500 cases of this wine to go around from the 2009 vintage. |
|
|
2019 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (8/2022): The 2019 Les Pavots is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder Petit Verdot. It has unfolding layers of dark minerals, with graphite, boysenberry liqueur, and fresh leather. The palate is expressive of its mountain fruit, with more gripping structure but no harsh edges. This is a remarkable wine to hold a few years and enjoy over the following two decades. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Ma Danseuse Pinot Noir |
$120 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (7/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is the most exuberant and packed of these Pinots Noirs from Peter Michael. It is also the wine that made me notice these wines when I tasted the debut 2009s prior to release. Plush contours frame a core of black cherry fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and blood orange. The French oak is already totally integrated, another sign of an important wine in the making. (Drink between 2027-2038). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (3/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse begins with youthful new oak spice that gives way to intense black cherry, cranberry, Earl Grey tea and wildflower aromas. The palate is concentrated yet weightless, its highly perfumed flavors structured by silky tannins and succulent acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 453 cases were made.
JD 96 (7/2025): From a cooler, later ripening site in Fort Ross-Seaview, the 2022 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is a saturated red hue and is lush with a sapid aromatic profile of cherry liqueur, crushed flowers, pine resin, and sappy herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a broader structure, with ripe tannins and darker underpinnings. It’s a richly styled wine but has good clarity. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick. |
|
| | USA White |
| Peter Michael Winery |
2023 |
L’Apres Midi Sauvignon Blanc |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (3/2025): Grapes for the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc L’Après-Midi were picked from September 21 through November 2—an especially long harvest window. “It was a special year because everything was pushed back,” Winemaker Robert Fiore says, noting that the cooler season resulted in very lively wines. Blended with 4% Sémillon, the 2023 L’Après-Midi is open and inviting. Pineapple, peach and guava are accented by tones of beeswax, dried tarragon and candle smoke on the nose. The palate is bursting with concentrated, tropical, spicy flavors. Its vibrant acidity provides the perfect foil, lending the wine a shimmery feel, and it has a long, perfumed finish. |
|
|
2024 |
L’Apres Midi Sauvignon Blanc |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (2/2026): The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc L’Après-Midi contains 6% Sémillon. It matured in around 15% new French oak and was bottled the spring after the harvest. It has continually unfurling scents of flint, white peach, tarragon, lemongrass, graham cracker, chamomile and honey. The full-bodied palate is bursting with layers of flinty stone and citrus fruit, and it has a lifted, silky texture. It’s balanced by succulent acidity and has a long, perfumed finish. 2,162 cases were made. |
|
|
2023 |
La Carriere Chardonnay |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2026): The 2023 Chardonnay La Carrière has intoxicating scents of white peach, grilled grapefruit and Meyer lemon plus nuances of flint, vanilla, panna cotta and lemongrass. The full-bodied palate is silky and expressive with energetic layers of flinty citrus and stone fruit. It offers high concentration for its elegant frame, and its oak spice is seamlessly integrated. It’s balanced by bright, focused acidity and has a long, dynamic finish. 2,478 cases were made.
JD 95 (7/2025): French for “The Quarry,” the 2023 Chardonnay La Carriere comes from a steep site with a 45-degree slope and rocky, poor soils. It boasts a bright yellow color with a light haze (they don’t fine or filter), and the nose lifts with flinty wet stones, fresh pineapple, lemon curd, citrus blossoms, and an elegant, rounded vanilla perfume. The palate is medium to full-bodied and offers a silky texture, with an elegant, floating feel and delicate savory notes of Marcona almond on the finish. Drink 2026-2038. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (7/2025): The 2023 Chardonnay La Carrière is wonderfully exuberant right out of the gate. Apricot, white flowers, tangerine peel, truffle, mint and lightly honeyed overtones all build in the glass. La Carrière is defined by striking mid-palate resonance and texture. It's another gorgeous wine in this range from Peter Michael. These are the lowest-yielding Chardonnay vines on the property. (Drink between 2027-2035). Antonio Galloni |
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|
2023 |
Ma Belle-Fille Chardonnay |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (7/2025): Coming from the highest vineyard site of the Chardonnays, planted between 1999 and 2000, the 2023 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille has a bright straw/yellow hue. The nose opens to lifted notes of white pepper, quince, poached green apples, and fresh flowers. The palate is full but nimble, with a more mid-weight feel. It’s finessed and is long on the palate, with an elegant, silky texture. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 96 (2/2026): The 2023 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille has slowly opening scents of Meyer lemon, panna cotta, orange blossom, saline and well-matched, seamlessly integrated oak spice. The full-bodied palate is silky and energetic, its highly concentrated flavors foiled by taut acidity, and it has a long, layered finish.
VM 94 (7/2025): The 2023 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille offers a beguiling mix of aromatics, fruit and structure. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint, white pepper, slate and dried herbs all race across the palate. Strong mineral and graphite notes emerge with coaxing to round things out. This needs time. (Drink between 2027-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2022 |
Mon Plaisir Chardonnay |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (3/2025): The 2022 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir offers a well of peachy fruit on the nose, complemented by compelling nuances of panna cotta, gingersnap cookies, Meyer lemon and iodine. The full-bodied palate is powerful and expansive with rich, layered flavors and a luxurious, satiny texture. Its generosity is foiled by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, kaleidoscopic finish.
VM 94 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir is an incredibly classy wine. Soft, silky and caressing, the 2022 is sublime. Orange peel, mint, white flowers and a kiss of French oak are some of the many notes that grace this understated yet seductive Chardonnay from Peter Michael. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Mon Plaisir Chardonnay |
$129 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2025): The 2023 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir is a dense, powerful wine. It is also one of the most reticent Chardonnays in this range. Apricot pit, peach, pear, white flowers, mint, white pepper and slate emerge, but only with great reluctance. This is a wine for readers who can be patient. What a beauty. (Drink between 2027-2038) . Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (7/2025): From the first vineyard of the estate, the 2023 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir has a similar bright yellow hue and a more focused feel with notes of lime zest, crushed stones, melon, sweet spices, and vanilla. The palate is full-bodied, with focused acidity, and feels more tension-driven, with a long, mouthwatering finish that floats off the palate with a mineral-toned feel. It will take time to open it, but it should have a good deal of longevity. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 95+ (2/2026): The 2023 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir has arresting scents of flint, candle smoke, crème brûlée and spice over a core of peach and guava fruit. The full-bodied palate is elegantly styled with a silky texture, taut acidity and nuanced but youthfully coiled flavors. Concentrated and energetic, it will benefit from several years in the cellar. 1,117 cases were made. |
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|
2021 |
Point Rouge Chardonnay |
$400 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (7/2023): A ripe straw hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Point Rouge is lifted with aromas of lime zest, delicate smoke, ripe green apple, and wet stone. Full-bodied, it offers a slightly more linear feel, with energetic freshness to balance the richness, sweet oak spices that are well-integrated, and a long finish. This is a fantastic blend of the estate’s sites. Drink 2024-2036.Sir Peter Michael founded his eponymous winery in 1982, inspired by the wine of Chateau Montelena, which led him to California. In 2020, Robert Fiore took the helm as winemaker, while former winemaker Luc Morlet remains as a consultant. Robert studied at the Colorado School of Mines, which led him to a career in environmental geophysics before finding his path into the world of wine. He went on to UC Davis to study Viticulture and Enology. Most recently, Robert was a member of the winemaking team at Continuum in Napa. Vineyard manager Javier Avina has championed the land since 1991. Each of the sites are steep hillsides in Knights Valley that modulate with varied exposition and soils. Sir Peter’s son Paul and his wife Emily oversee the management of the winery today. (Drink between 2024-2036). Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Point Rouge is a powerful, heady wine. Readers will have to be patient with the 2021, as it packs a ton of punch. Dried flowers, chamomile, spice, mint and orange peel infuse the 2021 with tons of depth and sheer character. Readers will find a magnificent, complete Chardonnay. (Drink between 2025-2033). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (10/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Point Rouge is very tightly coiled on the nose. Spring honey, brioche, toast and almond dominates a shy core of peachy fruit. Despite its aromatic reticence at this stage, it's surprisingly concentrated and perfumed as it glides through the mouth with a satiny texture and seamless freshness. Like the Chardonnay Mon Plaisir, the Point Rouge will take significant time to reveal its full potential. |
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2022 |
Point Rouge Chardonnay |
$375 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (7/2025): Also a barrel selection and aged 15 months in barrel, visually the 2022 Chardonnay Point Rouge offers a touch more clarity, with a shimmering yellow hue. With 80% of the fruit from Belle Cote and 10% each from the other vineyards, it’s layered aromatically with notes of honeyed citrus, fresh linen, melon, honeydew, and vanilla bean. On the palate, it gains in intensity and builds through the finish, and it’s pristine and fresh all the way through. It has real staying power, with plenty of clarity and focus that’s balanced with density and power. It closes with a mouthwatering finish. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick.
WA 96+ (3/2025): The 2022 Chardonnay Point Rouge has slowly unfolding scents of candy apple, pie crust, coriander seed and roasted almonds, offering something new with each return to the glass. The full-bodied palate pairs satiny and concentrated with honey- and spice-laced flavors. Its richness is balanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a very long, dynamic finish. It opens dramatically with air and will benefit from some time in a decanter.
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Point Rouge is a classic Peter Michael wine. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, apricot and light tropical accents all run through this super-expressive Chardonnay. This year's blend is 80% Belle Côte, 10% Ma Belle File and 10% La Carrière. I find the 2022 a bit closed at this stage, which I take as a positive sign in terms of potential for cellaring. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| 00 Wines |
2022 |
VGR Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (2/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir VGR is youthfully flinty to begin, requiring plenty of air to reveal blackberry, rhubarb, cinnamon stick and woodsy undertones. The medium-bodied palate offers expansive, layered flavors. It’s balanced by juicy acidity and has a long, nuanced finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar or some time in a decanter.
JD 93 (8/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir VGR (Very Good Red) has a bright ruby hue and boasts expressive aromas of wild raspberries, fresh lavender perfume, walnut, and forest earth. Medium-bodied, it offers a savory and lightly gamey richness, with refined tannins and elegant spices that linger on the finish. It's approachable now, though I imagine it has another 10 years of peak enjoyment ahead. Audrey Frick.
VM 92 (8/2024): The highly expressive 2022 Pinot Noir VGR mixes kirsch liqueur with crushed blackberries, violets and sage, taking on a savory whiff of seared meats. It’s round and pliant, displaying lovely lift as juicy acidity motivates its ripe red berry fruits. A subtle tinge of salty concentration adds depth toward the close. The 2022 tapers off with an almost crunchy sensation, long and tactile, leaving a spicy flourish and hints of sour cherry pit to linger on. This is a beautiful wine of contrasts. (Drink between 2025-2032). Eric Guido. |
|
| Arrow & Branch |
2022 |
Right Bank Blend |
$159.95 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (3/2025): The 2022 Arrow & Branch Right Bank Blend Napa Valley is gorgeous, offering up a complex bouquet of black cherries, cedar pencil, dried flowers, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, this beauty hits the palate with a round, lush, and downright sexy profile that has no hard edges yet still brings impressive density and depth. With ripe, integrated tannins as well as outstanding length, this blend of 63% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 22% Merlot, aged 22 months in French oak (60% new) is going to drink nicely over the coming 15+ years. (Drink between 2025-2040). |
|
| Bella Oaks |
2022 |
Le Genie |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
Decanter 96 (2/2025): The 2022 Le Génie is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bella Oaks estate in Rutherford. Lifted wet-stone aromatics mingle with redcurrant, blackberry, and cherry, creating a bright yet layered nose. Full-bodied, with super-suave, velvety-textured tannins, the wine frames a richly dense core of succulent dark black and blue fruit compote. It strikes a beautiful balance between power and restraint, showing a plusher, more approachable expression in 2022 compared to previous vintages, where it has been more of a sleeper. Bella Oaks is owned by Suzanne Deal Booth, with Nigel Kinsman as winemaker and Michel Rolland as consulting winemaker, with whom Kinsman has worked since 2003. (Drink between 2025-2037)
WA 94 (6/2025): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Génie is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of black cherries and loamy earth are framed by cedar and vanilla on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple, super ripe and deep, velvety and long. It's just a quibble at this level of quality, but it does show a touch of vintage-related coarseness and warmth on the finish.
JD 93 (4/2025): A hell of a second wine, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Genie delivers cassis, red currants, new leather, and spicy notes. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and balanced, it offers soft, supple tannins and outstanding length. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it will drink beautifully over the coming decade. (Drink between 2025-2035)
VM 92 (12/2024): The 2022 Le Genie is blended mostly from younger vines, picked on the earlier side for a more vibrant style. That works quite well, especially in 2022. Bright acids run through a core red/purplish fruit, chalk, white pepper and orange peel. Le Genie is among the best wines in its peer group, meaning the second wines of top estates. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2022 |
Proprietary Red |
$225 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2025): Despite GM Shae Kinsman's assertion that "it's not a black-fruit expression that comes out of this vineyard," the Bella Oaks 2022 Proprietary Red Wine offers up what I find to be generous amounts of black cherries and cassis, alongside a faint herbal note. A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot—the blenders come from Ecotone for now, while waiting for recent plantings at Bella Oaks to come online—it's a full-bodied wine, rich and somewhere between velvety and silky, with a long, elegant finish. It shows great intensity and length, with no trace of raisining, although I would call it more dark-fruited than red. |
|
| Belle Glos |
2022 |
Glasir Holt Pinot Noir |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Black Sheep Finds |
2022 |
The Joy Fantastic Syrah |
$53 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (8/2024): The 2022 Syrah emerges from a tiny one-acre parcel of own-rooted vines planted with five selections. Black pepper, spice, lavender, plum and dried flowers lend notable complexity, a reminder of how well Syrah can perform in the Sta. Rita Hills. The 20% stems are impeccably integrated into the wine's fabric. All the elements are so well balanced. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cardinale |
2022 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (3/2025): Sourced from 14 different vineyards, the Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon reveals alluring aromas of cassis, black fruits, new leather, and baking spices. Full-bodied and powerful, with remarkable richness and focus, it offers ripe, well-integrated tannins and a pleasure-bent yet sophisticated personality. Based on 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, aged 22 months in 81% new French oak, this classy wine will drink beautifully for two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045) |
|
| Chappellet |
2022 |
Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$280 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (2/2025): A terrific effort from a challenging vintage, Chappellet's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill—94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot—boasts expressive scents of cassis, blackberries, vanilla and caramel. It's full-bodied, supple, generous, deep and round, expansive on the palate and framed by soft, fully ripe tannins and hints of mocha on the lingering, velvety finish. Showy, impressive and delicious, it should drink well for a couple of decades.
JD 96 (3/2025): The flagship 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill brings more density and depth than just about every other wine in the vintage. This brilliant 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot blend offers darker blue fruits interwoven with graphite, crushed stone-like minerality, and liquid violets. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has beautiful tannins, a lively sense of freshness and purity, no hard edges, and a great finish. Best after 2-3 years of bottle age, it will drink well for 15+ years. (Drink between 2027-2043) |
|
| Dalla Valle |
2022 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$265 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (2/2025): I appear to have underestimated Dalla Valle's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate prior to bottling, as this blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot is now showing more harmony and length. On the nose, intense black cherries join dark, loamy earth scents, while the medium to full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, showing admirable concentration, texture and terrific persistence on the finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Maya Proprietary Blend |
$375 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2025): Moving to the 2022 Maya, it's the first year since 1989 that has this cuvée includes more Cabernet Franc than Cabernet Sauvignon. (It's 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in 75% new barrels.) A fabulous nose of darker currants, leafy herbs, violets, camphor, new leather, and flower notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, polished mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a brilliant finish.
VM 97 (12/2024): The 2022 Maya is a rare Maya that is Cabernet Franc-driven, the first since 1989 with a similar blend. Pliant and layered, the 2022 is sublime. Dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and espresso all build in the glass. A remarkable wine, Maya may very well turn out to be one of the wines of the vintage. It is certainly one of my favorites at this stage and a clear front-runner. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (2/2025): Dalla Valle's 2022 Maya is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, dominated on the nose by scents of dark chocolate and black cherries, plus vaguely leafy notions and hints of dried spices. Tannic and taut, in obvious need of cellaring, this medium to full-bodied wine's tannins are not as deep or richly textural as they can be (as in the 2021, for example), but they remain impressive; and the finish exhibits superb length. The winery's Cabernet Sauvignon is more flattering to taste now, while the Maya may surpass it in time. |
|
| Donum |
2022 |
Carneros Pinot Noir |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir (Carneros) is plump, juicy and easy to like. Succulent red cherry, blood orange, cinnamon and sweet oak are front and center. Drink this supple, mid-weight offering over the next few years. (Drink between 2025-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Hypersonic Pinot Noir |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Hypersonic lives up to its name. A blast of jammy dark blue/purplish fruit, incense, licorice, leather and scorched earth stains the palate. The 2022 is a big wine, that much is clear. It would be great to see more finesse, though. (Drink between 2025-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is another tasty appellation-level wine from Donum. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender and dried herbs confer lovely savory intensity to play off the wine's bold, forward fruit. (Drink between 2025-2028) Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Three Hills Pinot Noir |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (1/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Three Hills is a dark, brooding wine. A blast of dark cherry/plum fruit, espresso, menthol, licorice and dried herbs makes a strong opening statement. This is an imposing, potent style, especially in the tannin profile. (Drink between 2025-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Dom. Drouhin |
2022 |
Cuvee Laurene Pinot Noir Bin-Soiled Label |
$64 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97 (8/2024): The medium ruby-colored 2022 Pinot Noir Laurene is more layered and complex, with a cologne consisting of cedar, leather, black cherries, wild raspberries, umami savory notes, and mossy earth. Medium-bodied, it has more structure and slightly broader shoulders, with ripe tannins and evenly balanced, ripe acidity. It’s only going to improve with time and will drink well over the next 20 years. (Drink between 2024-2044). Audrey Frick.
VM 94+ (8/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Laurène is spicy, revealing an intense burst of crushed cherries and strawberries complemented by hints of clove and a cascade of dusty rose. This is juicy in style with ripe red berry fruits that saturate as saline minerals amass toward the close. Violet and lavender tones linger through the lightly structured finish, leaving a pleasant tart blackberry tinge that slowly fades. (Drink between 2026-2036). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2022 |
Origine 35 Pinot Noir |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96 (8/2024): A medium red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Origine has fantastic aromatics revealing polished and layered notes of black cherry liqueur, wildflowers, and violets. Medium-bodied, it has great persistence on the palate, with a lot of mouthwatering ripeness, and boasts velvety, ripe tannins with notes of leather. It has wonderful, savory undertones, with pure fruit all the way through and a salty finish with a hint of porcini powder. Drink 2025-2045. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 93+ (8/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Origine 35 is understated in the glass, dusty, floral and perfumed, with a burst of crushed strawberries that fills the senses. This sweeps across the palate like pure silk, lifted and racy in feel, with a graceful personality and perfumed red berry fruits that swirl throughout. Rosy inner florals resonate as the 2022 tapers off long with a primary concentration. A web of fine tannins lingers without hindering any momentum. (Drink between 2025-2034). Eric Guido.
WA 93 (12/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Origine 35 is scented of rhubarb, cranberry, salami, forest floor and lavender. The medium-bodied palate is plush and inviting with silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. It drinks beautifully straight from the bottle. |
|
| Fe Wines |
2022 |
26 Red Wine |
$110 |
1 |
|
| |
Decanter 96 (12/2024): In 2011, Sid Greer of Greer Wines reached out to Aaron Pott to assess a plot of land in Napa for its grape-growing potential. The site, located at the base of Spring Mountain, north of areas like Morlet, features super rocky, iron-rich soils with Aiken clay loam. This 2-ha property now has 1.6 hectares of organically farmed acres of Cabernet Sauvignon planted to See and Wiemer clones, along with 0.4ha dedicated to Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The wine, named '26' as a reference to iron on the periodic table of elements, is a blend of the estate's varieties. While the first vintage was produced in 2016, the inaugural release was 2018. This full-bodied 2022 vintage boasts exceptional polish and integrity. It is loaded with blackberry fruit, cassis, rich baking spices, slate, and mocha. The tannins are firm yet supple, supporting a plump fruit profile with warmth and generosity. Designed for near-term enjoyment, this vintage is perfect to savour while the 2021 and 2019 vintages continue to mature in the cellar. Aged 20 months in 75% new French oak. (Drink between 2025-2038).
WA 93 (2/2025): Marked by scents of mountain bay, sage and black cherries, Fe's 2022 26 is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec, all aged 20 months in approximately 75% new French oak. It's medium to full-bodied and taut yet velvety, with what seems like ample concentration, but it seems to lose impetus on the finish. I have to admit to being (just) slightly disappointed relative to the barrel sample last year. The wine was bottled in June 2024, so perhaps it was still in a bit of a funk when I tasted the bottled wine in November.
VM 89 (12/2024): The 2022 26 is a soft, plummy wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, pipe tobacco, leather, incense and dried flowers build nicely into the open-knit finish. (Drink between 2024-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fingers Crossed |
2022 |
Life and Death Red Wine |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (8/2024): asted prior to its July bottling date, the 2022 White Wine Life And Death is a blend of 69.5% Chardonnay, 26.9% Roussanne and 3.6% Marsanne from the Sanford & Benedict, Bien Nacido and Stolpman Vineyards. It spent 22 months in 85% new French oak. The nose here is a striking combination of waxy and layered aromas of stone fruit, tropical fruits, bright spice tones and an undercurrent of pleasing caramel richness. The palate is lavish and quite full-bodied, displaying impressive power and polish while remaining energetic and focused. It concludes with a succulent, clean acid profile that welcomely braces its otherwise massive frame. This was very enjoyable and should be fascinating to follow through bottling into its aging curve. |
|
|
2022 |
Life and Death Syrah |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96-99 (8/2024): Dramatically different from the Red Wine, the 2022 Syrah Life & Death reveals a slightly deeper ruby/plum hue as well as a gamey, classic Syrah perfume of blackberries, bouquet garni, ground black pepper, and smoked bacon fat. It's full-bodied, plush, has a round, sexy mouthfeel, and a blockbuster finish.
VM 92-94 (8/2024): The 2022 Syrah Life and Death is another deep, resonant wine. It's the first pure Syrah for Fingers Crossed, in this case from Bien Nacido and Stolpman. Inky dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, dried herbs and mocha fill out the layers. This dense, powerhouse Syrah hits all the right notes, but it’s a baby today. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Tasted before bottling, the 2022 Syrah Life And Death is the first single-variety bottling from Fingers Crossed. It was sourced from Bien Nacido and Stolpman Vineyards, fermented with 18% whole clusters and aged for 21 months in 61% new French oak. True to the varietal makeup, the nose is darkly fruited and streaked with hints of black pepper, framed with a dusty, herbal quality that melds with touches of alcoholic heat. The palate is ripe, soft and luscious in texture, transitioning to a gritty, slightly hot finish. This was a moving target in the glass and could improve after bottling, although that back-end burn is problematic. |
|
| Futo |
2022 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$290 |
2 |
|
| |
Decanter 99 (3/2025): Unfolds with layers of savoury Oakville sagebrush, bay laurel and fresh tobacco. Expressive cocoa-powder tannins add texture, while a striking minerality – evoking crushed volcanic stones – intertwines with a saline edge. The acidity carries a bright, saline-mineral tension. Charged with electric energy, balanced tension and expressive fruit, making it both deeply impressive and utterly inviting. Sourced entirely from the estate’s diverse site, marked by extreme slopes, terraces and multiple aspects planted to heritage selection clones. Native fermented on skins in stainless steel, aged for 24 months in 60% new French oak. Winemaker Jason Exposto has led winemaking at Futo since 2009. Originally from New Zealand, he trained in Austria, Bordeaux and the Loire, working under Stéphane Derenoncourt at Pavie and La Mondotte, with additional harvests at Ausone. (Drink between 2025-2045)
WA 98 (2/2025): All Cabernet Sauvignon, Futo's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville boasts seductive scents of fine cedar and ripe cherries, beautifully complemented by cinnamon, clove and dry-earth shadings. In the mouth, it's full-bodied but not overdone, plush, velvety and long, delivering tremendous richness without any excessive weight. Complex and complete, this is the real deal.
VM 95 (2/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is creamy, layered and super-finessed. All the elements are so well balanced. Red cherry/plum fruit, cedar, spice, leather, tobacco and espresso all meld together. This is another wine in the range with superb balance, albeit in the smaller-scale style of the year. (Drink between 2027-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Gargiulo Vineyards |
2022 |
Aprile Proprietary Blend |
$89 |
7 |
|
| |
|
| Hall |
2022 |
Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94 (3/2025): All Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new French oak, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece boasts beautiful cassis, juicy blackberries, crushed stone, graphite, and mineral notes intermixed with chocolaty oak. On the palate, it shows impressive freshness and purity, integrated acidity, and ripe tannins. Drink over the next 12-15 years. (Drink between 2025-2040).
VM 94 (12/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Masterpiece is another terrific wine in this range from Hall. Dark, ample and explosive, the 2022 is quite the extrovert. Blackberry jam, espresso, chocolate, licorice, cloves and incense all stain the palate. This opulent Cabernet is beautifully done, especially for the year. The main fruit sources are Soda Canyon, St. Helena and Mt. Veeder. (Drink between 2025-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| David Hill |
2022 |
Estate Pinot Noir |
$23.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ink Grade |
2022 |
Lost Clouds Merlot |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2025): All Merlot, from vines planted in 1992 on one of the highest Merlot sites in Napa, Ink Grade's 2022 Red Wine Lost Clouds is another micro-production wine, with just 94 cases. It's east-facing, providing a slightly cooler location. Red cherries and redcurrants mark the nose, joined by a hint of almost pine-needle-like terpene notes. Medium-bodied and nicely textured, this standout Merlot finishes long, with silky tannins.
VM 92 (11/2025): The 2022 Lost Clouds, 100% Merlot, emerges from an east-facing slope in one of the highest-elevation blocks on the property. Bold and racy in the glass, with plenty of structure, Lost Clouds is one of the most unique wines being made in Napa Valley today. High-toned floral notes add a distinctive, exotic flair. (Drink between 2027-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Kinsman Eades |
2022 |
Aphex Ecotone Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$350 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2025): From the old Thorevilos vineyard (now Ecotone), the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Aphex is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Gorgeous blackcurrants, black olive, tobacco, and a beautiful meaty edge lead to a full-bodied, perfectly balanced palate with fine, polished tannins. This shows more depth, density, and structure than just about every wine in the vintage. Absolutely sensational 2022 that will drink beautifully over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045)
VM 96 (12/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Aphex Ecotone Vineyard is packed with dark cherry, plum, blood orange, pomegranate, white pepper and slate. Aromatic and deep, with tons of fruit density and exceptional balance, the 2022 is seriously impressive All it needs is time to soften. Then again, this is Ecotone. (Drink between 2027-2042). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Hierothesion Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2025): Based on 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Hierothesion delivers ripe red, blue, and black fruits, tobacco, leather, graphite, and crushed stone. Pure, elegant, and seamless on the palate, it's beautifully balanced with a silky profile. Already drinking beautifully but it will keep for 15 years or more. (Drink between 2025-2040).
VM 92 (12/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Hierothesion is the entry-level offering in this range from Nigel and Shae Kinsman. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit and kick of orange peel are some of the notes that grace this exquisite, vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon. Drops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot surely help in that regard. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Kodo Cabernet Sauvignon |
$395 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (4/2025): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from M Bar Ranch, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo delivers darker currants and leafy herbs, with a plush, round, mouthfilling mid-palate. It has velvety tannins, integrated acidity, and beautiful balance, showing both plushness and density. This killer wine will drink beautifully over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 94 (12/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo is another terrific wine in this range. Aromatic and pliant, the 2022 is super-pedigreed. It is texturally very pretty, even though the complexity of the best wines in the range is not quite there. With that said, these are relatively young vines. (Drink between 2027-2042). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2022 |
Gap’s Crown Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard reveals a darker ruby red hue and is ripe on the nose with notes of cherry cordial, pine, leather, and mossy earth. Full-bodied, it fills the palate with supple, ripe tannins, a silky, fruity roundness, and a ripe but well-managed finish. Drink 2025-2035. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a saturated bright red hue and is ripe and pure on the nose, with notes of red cherry liqueur, pressed flowers, baking spices, and fresh forest earth. It has a rounded feel with a medium-bodied frame and fills the palate pure, ripe tannins and an elegant, weightless feel throughout the finish. This beautifully styled appellation wine is a highlight of the vintage and retains lovely freshness. Drink 2026-2040 Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a saturated bright red hue and is ripe and pure on the nose, with notes of red cherry liqueur, pressed flowers, baking spices, and fresh forest earth. It has a rounded feel with a medium-bodied frame and fills the palate pure, ripe tannins and an elegant, weightless feel throughout the finish. This beautifully styled appellation wine is a highlight of the vintage and retains lovely freshness. Drink 2026-2040 Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2025): A bright, saturated ruby color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is expressive on opening, with aromas of cranberry cocktail, bright toasted spice, cedar, and pressed flowers. Medium-bodied, it has a ripe but focused feel, with a silky texture and a long, spicy note through the finish. Drink 2026-2038. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Thorn Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
| Decanter 93 (6/2025): Juicy fresh berry fruits are the hallmark of this Willamette Valley bottling, sourcing Pinot Noir from a few different clones across a number of the Valley's appellations and some well-known vineyards. Fleshy strawberries, sweet rose petals and candied raspberries collide with fir tips and forest floor. A proper Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. (Drink between 2025-2033) |
|
| Leonetti Cellars |
2022 |
Walla Walla Merlot |
$95 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (3/2024): Deeply colored and extracted for a Merlot, the 2022 Walla Walla Merlot displays mocha notes with plum and blackberry compote with soft notions of brown baking spices that sway from the glass with a firm, mineral essence. Full-bodied, the palate is still tight with firm,. gripping tannins that will release with additional years in the cellar yet will remain food-friendly for the next decade. The wine spent 15 months in a mix of new and used French oak and neutral botti. |
|
| MacDonald |
2022 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$549 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (1/2025): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is clearly one of the successes in the vintage. With a deep purple hue as well as gorgeous aromatics of ripe blackcurrants, darker chocolate, roasted herbs, and graphite, it hits the palate with a medium to full-bodied texture, a round, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a classic, ripe, textured, stunningly balanced 2022 that will drink beautifully over two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 93 (12/2024): Just bottled, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is an attractive wine. Crushed flowers, red cherry, red plum, lavender and spice open nicely. The 2022 shows the mid-weight structure of the year, with fine balance and an understated personality that is typical of this vintage. Readers will find an enjoyable wine but one that clearly lacks the dimension and dynamic energy of the very finest vintages. (Drink between 2028-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Matthiasson |
2022 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Philippe Melka |
2022 |
CJ Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
11 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Mekerra Proprietary Blend |
$125 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 95 (1/2025): The 2022 La Mekerra Vineyard is based on 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak. Ripe black cherries, darker currants, smoked tobacco, darker chocolate, and graphite all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated, has ripe, polished tannins, a great, layered mid-palate, and a great finish.
VM 92 (11/2025): The 2022 Mekerra is quite dense and powerful. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and light tropical overtones fill out the layers. There's a bit of tension in the contours, likely the result of drought, but all things considered, the balance here is impeccable. (Drink between 2026-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Metisse Jumping Goat Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2025): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Jumping Goat Vineyard is a rich, heady wine. Sumptuous dark red/purplish fruit, spice, menthol, pomegranate and blood orange are front and center. The purity of the fruit is compelling. A healthy dollop of Petit Verdot (11%) lends quite a bit of freshness. (Drink between 2026-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Peter Michael Winery |
2022 |
Clos Du Ciel Pinot Noir |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96 (7/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Clos Du Ciel is magenta with a purple-ish tint in the glass and is enveloping with rich, layered aromas of mint, red plum, wild herbs, and nearly iodine notes. Leaning toward full-bodied, it’s also the most savory through the palate, with rich, ripe tannin, a rounded mouthfeel, and a long finish. It’s highly complex and layered, packed with intensity that continues to unfold rapidly in the glass. It’s going to offer a good deal of longevity and is a more contemplative wine in the range. Drink 2026-2045. Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (1/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Clos du Ciel is a tiny bottling of just 266 cases, about half of the normal production. Bold, incisive tannins enshroud a core of black fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, rose petal and a kiss of new French oak. This brooding, tannic Pinot needs a few years to come together. Today, it is decidedly imposing in feel. Give this time to unwind. (Drink between 2027-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| de Negoce |
2022 |
OG N. 480 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2022 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 16 Syrah |
$269 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 98 (10/2025): The 16th release of this cuvée, the 2022 No 16 Cumulus Vineyard comes all from the Cumulus Vineyard, which was planted in 2004 around the estate in Oak View. A blend of 78% Petite Sirah, 12.3% Touriga Nacional, 6.7% Mourvèdre, and 3% white varieties, it was fermented with 20% whole clusters and spent 30 months in 36% new French oak. Blackberries, roasted meats, leather, smoke, and iron nuances all flow from this beauty. Full-bodied and balanced, with a deep, layered mid-palate, it's velvety and voluptuous on the palate, with nicely integrated acidity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is a big, concentrated, powerful wine that's just about overflowing with character. Give bottles 3-4 years if you can and it should keep for 15+ in cold cellars. Drink 2028-2043.
VM 96 (8/2025): The 2022 No. 16 Cumulus Vineyard leads the charge with a healthy proportion of Petite Sirah (78%), most of which is own-rooted, as the Krankls aim to move this cuvée away from Syrah dominance and toward a truer representation of the makeup of their home vineyard. The No. 16 is a monstrous, bombastic wine that's amplified in every dimension. Blackberry preserves, black licorice, star anise, chaparral, French vanilla and powerful peppery nuances saturate the palate with confidence and unashamed opulence. The inclusion of 20% whole clusters across the blend exalts the natural structure of Petite Sirah in a very warm, dry vintage, while the 12.3% Touriga Nacional in the blend provides propulsive, mouthwatering acidity. This could use a couple of years to integrate some of its youthful exuberance. (Drink between 2027-2042). Billy Norris. |
|
|
2022 |
Numero Oito Touriga Nacional |
$269 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (8/2025): The 2022 Touriga Nacional - Número Oito is a very “purple” wine in both color and aromatic shade. It brims with peppery, floral-tinctured character and shimmering bright acids, diving deeply into a well of lavender, espresso, iodine, resinous herbs, orange peel and cherry liqueur. The same crystalline purity and supreme textural finesse that runs through all of the Krankls' wines is on full display here. The balance and depth are just sublime. The 2022 is very open-knit and approachable today, but patience will be handsomely rewarded. The blend is 78% Touriga Nacional, 12.9% Mourvèdre, 8.1% Syrah and 1% Petit Manseng. (Drink between 2025-2042). Billy Norris.
JD 96 (9/2025): Based on 78% Touriga Nacional, 12.9% Mourvèdre, 8.1% Syrah, and 1.0% Petit Manseng, all from the Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View, the 2022 Touriga Nacional Numero Oito was completely destemmed and aged 30 months in 35% new French oak, with the balance in 1- to 3-year-old barrels. Red and black fruit, leather, graphite, and chalky minerality dominate the bouquet, with more violet and pepper notes emerging with air. Beautifully textured and full-bodied, it has nicely balanced, integrated acidity, showing a remarkably elegant, nuanced style that's going to evolve gracefully over the coming 15 years or more. Drink 2025-2040. |
|
| One True Vine |
2022 |
Summer Dreams Twilight Pinot Noir |
$128 |
1 |
|
| |
| Decanter 97 (9/2024): This is the most layered, the richest expression of the Summer Dreams Pinot Noirs. Twilight is the most powerful time in life, the point between light and darkness, between day and night, when we are at our most productive, and this wine, according to proprietory Jayson Woodbridge, embodies all that. 'It has incredible staying power, showcasing Pinot Noir at its most muscular—like a warrior Pinot. It will carry you through the darkest times,' he says, and indeed, it does carry the light and dark as it unfurls with black cherry and spiced plum fruits, dark chocolate, and saline minerals. Its rich, creamy, and powerful character is underscored by fabulous minerality and brisk acidity. This wine makes a compelling argument for the power of Pinot—never underestimate it. Jayson doesn’t care if you accept the style; he makes it boldly and unapologetically. 'It’s like the Darth Vader of Pinot—dark, intense, yet undeniably good,' he says. Fabulous umami notes of long-roasted beef and intense charred mineral character, seaweed, and everything the ocean can deliver in your glass are also present. All this from 100% Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast, Annapolis, and Fort Ross-Seaview AVAs. Whole berries are fermented in open-top tanks and puncheons with a mix of Demptos and Taransaud barrels from blonde, tight-grained Vosges forest wood. The wine is bottled unfined. |
|
| Opus One |
2022 |
Proprietary Blend |
$395 |
21 |
|
| |
JA 96 (6/2025): Smoky, fragrant and powerful, this has clear intensity with tightly-grained tannins. With coaxing, the body of the wine softens to show chalky tannins, crushed rose petals and violet flowers, impressive delicacy to the aromatics despite the heat of this vintage. Great stuff, once again showing how Opus knows when to take the foot off the pedal, how to swerve towards grace. Picking was exceptionally early, coming on August 24 for the Merlot, as they reacted to the forecast for a big heat dome. Michael Silacci director.
WA 95 (10/2025): Picked before, during and after the year's early September heat, the 2022 Opus One—a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 0.5% Malbec—admirably reflects the vintage, boasting a ripe, extroverted personality but also a slightly open-knit, coarser mouthfeel than either the 2021 or 2023. Rosemary and sandalwood notes accent cherries on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is expansive and plush, finishing with ample length and soft tannins.
JD 94 (12/2025): Very pretty, elegant, and seamless, the 2022 Opus One offers a terrific perfume of red and black fruits intermixed with fresh flowers and assorted baking and woody spices. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, has a fresh, elegant, lively mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's an incredibly successful, pure, seamless 2022 that will evolve beautifully over the coming 15-20 years. Drink 2025-2045. |
|
| Patent Wines |
2022 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 91 (2/2025): Consistent in quality over the past three highly variable vintages, Patent's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon offers up scents of ripe cherries, along with hints of mint and cassis. It's medium to full-bodied, taut and somewhat linear in shape on the palate, lined with silky tannins that extend through a lengthy, lip-smacking finish.
JD 90 (3/2025): Smoky cassis, blackberry jam, and spicy oak notes emerge from the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to full-bodied and sweetly fruited, it's impeccably made, with fine tannins, juicy acidity, and a pure, pretty profile. While the oak stands out at present, there's ample fruit to support it. Best enjoyed over the coming 5-7 years. (Drink between 2025-2032). |
|
| Perchance |
2022 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$315 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2024): Perchance's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon is a blend of two blocks of Clone 4 planted in 1996. Winemaker Mike Smith picked after the heat wave and after a subsequent rain event. "It was 27° Brix at the time, and the rain dropped it down a degree," he said. "The good thing about Clone 4 in a year like 2022 is that it always carries a bit more color and tannin." Mixed red and black cherries appear on the nose, joined by hints of dusty earth but few if any herbal qualities. It's full-bodied, rich and supple, easy to drink but not lacking for substance, with an elegant, lingering finish. Impressive stuff.
JD 94-96+ (2/2024): A step up, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has more cassis and black raspberry-like fruit as well as a big, rich, concentrated profile on the palate. This full-bodied, round, sexy effort has nicely integrated background oak, a round, expansive mid-palate, and a great finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Ex-Domaine |
$315 |
26 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2024): Perchance's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon is a blend of two blocks of Clone 4 planted in 1996. Winemaker Mike Smith picked after the heat wave and after a subsequent rain event. "It was 27° Brix at the time, and the rain dropped it down a degree," he said. "The good thing about Clone 4 in a year like 2022 is that it always carries a bit more color and tannin." Mixed red and black cherries appear on the nose, joined by hints of dusty earth but few if any herbal qualities. It's full-bodied, rich and supple, easy to drink but not lacking for substance, with an elegant, lingering finish. Impressive stuff.
JD 94-96+ (2/2024): A step up, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has more cassis and black raspberry-like fruit as well as a big, rich, concentrated profile on the palate. This full-bodied, round, sexy effort has nicely integrated background oak, a round, expansive mid-palate, and a great finish. |
|
| Joseph Phelps |
2022 |
Insignia |
$275 |
10 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2025): There are 10,400 cases of the impressive 2022 Insignia, a wine that has been entirely estate-grown since 2004. In a vintage impacted by an extended Labor Day heat wave, nearly two-thirds of the production came from the more shaded west side of Napa Valley, with harvest extending from September 7 through October 5. Scents of new suede, baking spices, loam and ripe cherries mingle easily on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, expansive and velvety, becoming just a little bit more open-knit on the lengthy finish. While unlikely to be a long-lived, legendary Insignia, it's still a delicious, forward wine that should drink well for close to 20 years.
JD 95 (12/2025): Based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Cabernet Franc and aged 24 months in 100% new French oak, the 2022 Insignia offers ripe red and black fruits, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and Asian spice notes. It's a plush, full-bodied, round, layered Cabernet with sweet, ripe, present tannins, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It brings beautiful mid-palate density, a sound, layered, balanced structure, and a great finish. This successful, impeccably made, quality 2022 is best enjoyed over the coming 20 years. There are 10,400 cases produced. Drink 2025-2045. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 94 (11/2025): The 2022 Insignia is dark, sumptuous and super expressive. Ripe black cherry, cedar, dried herbs, mint and lavender are all finely knit together. Most of the fruit in 2022 was from Banca Dorada and Las Rocas in Stags Leap, both cooler sites that fared better in this challenging vintage. Soft contours round things out in style. (Drink between 2027-2044). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$78.95 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 92 (12/2024): 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. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni.
JD 91 (1/2025): 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.
WA 90 (2/2025): 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. With more than 30,000 cases produced, it should be widely available across the entire US. |
|
| Precision Wine Co. |
2022 |
Method California Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Marked Label |
$14 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 87 (3/2025): A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Method California delivers spice-laced red and black fruits intermixed with subtle vanilla notes. Medium-bodied, charming, and balanced on the palate, with an easygoing personality, it's ideal for drinking over the next 3-5 years. (Drink between 2025-2030) |
|
| Purple Hands |
2022 |
Ciel Du Cheval Vinyards Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Dundee Reserve Pinot Noir |
$39 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (8/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Dundee Reserve is a medium ruby color in the glass and offers pure and spicy aromas of peppery spice, ripe cherries, wild fresh herbs, and wet stone. It is medium-bodied and ripe, with defined tannins, ripe structure, and a well-defined feel. It also has a bit of gamey earth on the palate. Drink 2024-2030. (Drink between 2024-2030). Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Haakon Lenai Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (8/2024): A youthful ruby red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Haakon/Lenai Vineyard comes from 27-year-old vines in the main estate vineyard. A youthful bright magenta/ruby color, it offers darker berried fruit notes of wild black raspberries, layered spice, toasted cedar, umami, and licorice, with some red-fruited, high-toned lift shining through. There is real crystalline depth to this wine as well as more purity and clarity, and it has bright, ripe acidity, mouthwatering freshness, and a great finish. Its ripe tannins are very well-framed, and it has a long finish. Much more purity and clarity here. Drink 2024-2044. This is by far the best wine in the Purple Hands lineup. (Drink between 2024-2044). Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (12/2024): From 26-year-old, dry-farmed vines, the 2022 Pinot Noir Haakon Lenai has pure, complex aromas of rhubarb, blueberry, licorice, tea leaves, potpourri and mossy bark. The medium-bodied palate is powerfully styled with generous layers of red fruit, spice and earth. It’s structured by velvety tannins and vibrant acidity and has a very long, expressive finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Kropf Vinyard Pinot Noir |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94 (8/2024): A youthful transparent red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Kropf Vineyard is lifted with very pretty spice to its notes of ripe strawberries, cinnamon, roses, and fresh herbs. Elegant and ripe, it has an approachable feel, with depth of flavor, fine tannins and a long finish. Drink 2024-2034. (Drink between 2024-2034). Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (12/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Kropf Vineyard is understated yet complex with detailed aromas of wild berries, citrus peel, potpourri, forest floor and bitters. The light-bodied palate offers concentrated, expressive red fruit flavors. It has silky tannins, mouthwatering acidity and a long finish with a flourish of spicy accents. It unfurls dramatically with time in the glass and will benefit from an hour or two in a decanter. |
|
|
2022 |
Le Nouveau Monde Prestige Pinot Noir |
$90 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Le Nouveau Monde is complex and powerful. Matured in around 75% new oak, it has slowly unfolding aromas of pomegranate, cranberry and blueberry and nuances of aniseed, mushrooms, lavender and earth. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with expansive, spicy flavors, and its ripe fruit is tempered by woodsy, earthy layers. It’s structured by velvety tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, layered finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Shea Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 96 (8/2024): From one of the highest elevations in this vineyard, the 2022 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard is a transparent red hue and is aromatic of ripe cherries, spices, mossy earth, and a lightly gamey but clean earth note. It is an elegant and lifted expression of the Shea Vineyard, with bright acidity, fine tannins, and a more linear feel, and as it opens, it starts to show its broader shoulders and its deeper notes come through. Drink 2025-2040. (Drink between 2025-2040). Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (12/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard was fermented with around 25% whole clusters and matured in about 30% new oak. It has a very pale ruby color and alluring scents of cranberry, rhubarb, forest floor and Angostura bitters. The light-bodied palate is elegantly styled, offering concentrated yet detailed flavors and compelling spicy accents. It’s structured by silky tannins and juicy acidity and has a long, nuanced finish. |
|
|
2022 |
West Wind Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir West Wind Vineyard comes from vines planted from 2017 to 2019 in sedimentary soils. It’s an impressive wine from young vines, offering surprising earthy, spicy complexity. It’s scented of cranberry sauce, Angostura bitters, wildflowers and woodsy tones and continues to unfurl aromatically as it airs in the glass. The medium-bodied palate features highly concentrated, detailed flavors. It’s structured by silky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long finish with a flourish of spicy accents.
JD 95 (8/2024): A youthful red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir West Wind Vineyard is lifted with aromas of wild, crunchy mixed berries, dark stones, peppery spice, and pine needles. Medium bodied, it has a linear feel, with ripe tannins and energetic acidity driving through the finish. A lovely wine, it’s going to age with ease over the next 10 years. (Drink between 2024-2034). Audrey Frick. |
|
| Realm |
2022 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$250 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (6/2025): A big, muscular wine, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is loaded with black cherry fruit and graced by hints of dark chocolate and mocha. It's the last vintage to include a smidgeon of Petit Verdot (4%), a full-bodied, richly tannic but ripe effort, with a long, harmonious finish.
JD 96 (1/2025): Another wine showing a fresher, juicy style, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard comes from unquestionably one of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. This deep purple-hued effort offers a lively nose of ripe plums, chocolate, violets, and graphite, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate with fine, nicely integrated tannins, terrific overall balance, and outstanding length. It's a touch more reserved compared to the To Kalon, so give bottles a few years. It should evolve gracefully through at least 2037. |
|
|
2022 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$290 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (6/2025): A big, muscular wine, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is loaded with black cherry fruit and graced by hints of dark chocolate and mocha. It's the last vintage to include a smidgeon of Petit Verdot (4%), a full-bodied, richly tannic but ripe effort, with a long, harmonious finish.
JD 96 (1/2025): Another wine showing a fresher, juicy style, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard comes from unquestionably one of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. This deep purple-hued effort offers a lively nose of ripe plums, chocolate, violets, and graphite, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate with fine, nicely integrated tannins, terrific overall balance, and outstanding length. It's a touch more reserved compared to the To Kalon, so give bottles a few years. It should evolve gracefully through at least 2037. |
|
|
2022 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$625 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (6/2025): A big, muscular wine, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is loaded with black cherry fruit and graced by hints of dark chocolate and mocha. It's the last vintage to include a smidgeon of Petit Verdot (4%), a full-bodied, richly tannic but ripe effort, with a long, harmonious finish.
JD 96 (1/2025): Another wine showing a fresher, juicy style, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard comes from unquestionably one of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. This deep purple-hued effort offers a lively nose of ripe plums, chocolate, violets, and graphite, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate with fine, nicely integrated tannins, terrific overall balance, and outstanding length. It's a touch more reserved compared to the To Kalon, so give bottles a few years. It should evolve gracefully through at least 2037. |
|
|
2022 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2025): I love the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, which might be the finest 2022 from this estate. Darker berries, red plums, tobacco, incense, and chocolaty nuances all shine here, and this beauty is full-bodied, has a rich, layered mouthfeel, sweet, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It shows the early pick dates with its fresher, vibrant style yet still brings beautiful depth, richness, and concentration. It will keep for 15+ years. (Drink between 2025-2040).
WA 95 (6/2025): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard incorporates 6% Cabernet Franc into the assemblage. Complex aromas range from cedar, loam and dried spices to restrained black cherries and black olives. It's full-bodied, supple, savory and long, with a slightly tannic edge to the finish. It could be a touch more concentrated, but that's nitpicking at this quality level.
VM 92 (12/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard is supple and juicy, qualities that will be best appreciated on the early side. It offers tons of forward appeal, if not quite the dimension, power of intensity of the best years. There's no way to get past the challenges of the brutal heat here. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Revana |
2022 |
Estate Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2022 |
Monte Bello Lightly Torn Label |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2025): Aged in 100% new oak, the 2022 Monte Bello blends 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, selected from 18 of 21 lots by blind tasting. After assemblage, the wine spent 21 more months in barrel. The vineyard starts at 1,600 feet and goes up to 2,700 feet at top, and is spread out across 4 different ranches, Klein, Rousten, Torre and Perrone, the wines getting more tightknit and ageable as the vines move up the mountain. By the end of harvest, Monte Bello is split into 55 different blocks, which are then picked and fermented separately. Year after year, this is a “wow” wine, herbal, lightly spiced in oak, with a lovely creamy, velvety texture and a backbone of well-resolved tannin supporting a medium-bodied, balanced spirit of mountain garrigue. These wines typically age 20-25 years or more. Virginie Boone.
VM 96 (10/2025): The 2022 Monte Bello feels like a cooler-vintage wine, defying all expectations of the torrid growing season. Juicy, fresh and very old school, the 2022 sashays with true elegance as it unfurls into classic layers of cedar box, tobacco, grilled herbs, tart cherry and crushed rocks. A return to a more typical percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage can be felt in the wine's upright build and darker aromatic shadings. Winemaker John Olney chose to keep the 2022 in barrel for 21 months, a little longer than usual, in an effort to tame its fierce young tannins. That prescription worked out swimmingly. The 2022 is a very serious, structured wine, but its textural polish is beyond reproach. It's a Monte Bello that whispers rather than shouts. Time is very much on your side. (Drink between 2030-2060). Billy Norris. |
|
|
2022 |
Monte Bello (1.5 L) |
$525 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2025): Aged in 100% new oak, the 2022 Monte Bello blends 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, selected from 18 of 21 lots by blind tasting. After assemblage, the wine spent 21 more months in barrel. The vineyard starts at 1,600 feet and goes up to 2,700 feet at top, and is spread out across 4 different ranches, Klein, Rousten, Torre and Perrone, the wines getting more tightknit and ageable as the vines move up the mountain. By the end of harvest, Monte Bello is split into 55 different blocks, which are then picked and fermented separately. Year after year, this is a “wow” wine, herbal, lightly spiced in oak, with a lovely creamy, velvety texture and a backbone of well-resolved tannin supporting a medium-bodied, balanced spirit of mountain garrigue. These wines typically age 20-25 years or more. Virginie Boone.
VM 96 (10/2025): The 2022 Monte Bello feels like a cooler-vintage wine, defying all expectations of the torrid growing season. Juicy, fresh and very old school, the 2022 sashays with true elegance as it unfurls into classic layers of cedar box, tobacco, grilled herbs, tart cherry and crushed rocks. A return to a more typical percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage can be felt in the wine's upright build and darker aromatic shadings. Winemaker John Olney chose to keep the 2022 in barrel for 21 months, a little longer than usual, in an effort to tame its fierce young tannins. That prescription worked out swimmingly. The 2022 is a very serious, structured wine, but its textural polish is beyond reproach. It's a Monte Bello that whispers rather than shouts. Time is very much on your side. (Drink between 2030-2060). Billy Norris. |
|
| Schrader |
2022 |
Heritage Clone To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$190 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2025): Schrader's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard is based on what has become known as Clone 31, about which winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown said, "Commercially nonviable is how I'd describe it—unless you grow it, bottle it and sell it for a lot of money." Scents of black cherries, loam, dried spices and dark chocolate appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky-textured and harmonious. It's a terrific wine from a challenging vintage.
Decanter 96 (1/2024): The Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is famously sourced from the low-yielding N2S block, planted in the late 1980s. This unique clone, isolated by viticulturist Phil Freeze and available through UC Davis, has garnered significant attention. ‘It reminds me of Clone 6 out of Block D2 in Beckstoffer To Kalon, which was the basis for Old Sparky,’ says winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. "This wine shares that density and intrigue." On the nose, it opens with dusty minerals, floral spices, and exotic brown spice notes. The palate is captivating, offering remarkable density and mid-palate intensity. High-toned florals and rooibos tea notes weave throughout, adding complexity to vibrant mango, apricot, peach pit, and cherry blossom flavours. An underlying freshness factor keeps the wine bright and dynamic. This is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing wines of the vintage from Schrader, showcasing both elegance and power. (Drink between 2025-2038)
JD 95 (1/2025): Red and black plums, cassis, spice oak, violets, and incense nuances all shine in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone, a pure, concentrated, elegant To Kalon that's full-bodied, has pure, polished tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's a structured, big, burly wine in 2022 that warrants 2-4 years in the cellar. It should keep through at least 2037. |
|
|
2022 |
MB To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$190 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (1/2025): Cassis, darker chocolate, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco all emerge from the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block, a beautifully textured, full-bodied 2022 that has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It doesn’t get much better in the vintage, and while it has the upfront appeal of the vintage, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve gracefully for upwards of two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045).
WA 95 (6/2025): Comprising 48 acres planted to several varieties, Mondavi's Monastery Block gets divided up among various brands. Schrader's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard offers up compelling scents of dried herbs (thyme?), cassis and perfumed violets on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated, velvety and perhaps a touch warm; the long finish adds a touch of dark chocolate. |
|
| Screaming Eagle |
2022 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,200 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95-97 (12/2023): While I wasn't able to taste the 2021s, the 2022s from Screaming Eagle are undeniable successes. Tasted from multiple barrels, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has medium to full-bodied, richness, beautiful purity of fruit and ripe, building tannins, as well as a good spine of acidity. This estate did an incredible selection, and it certainly shows in all the samples I was able to taste.
VM 95 (12/2024): Floral and silky in the glass, with lovely forward fruit, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a decidedly delicate, elegant wine. It offers terrific freshness and verve. Floral and citrus overtones lift a core of red-toned fruit. The low-ish tannins of the vintage are evident in the wine's mid-weight structure. In the 2022, it's the wine's freshness I admire most. I imagine the 2022 is a rare Screaming Eagle that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2022 |
Reuling Vyd. Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$75 |
41 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Rodgers Creek Vyd. Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$54 |
34 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Sangiacomo Vyd. Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$65 |
41 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (6/2024): Coming from the western base of Sonoma Mountain on Roberts Road, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard shows the sunny side of this warm and early vintage, with fruity aromas of preserved mixed berries, candied flowers, and sweet herbs. Ripe and medium-bodied, it has a silky, supple texture, a light, coating feel, and a more modest, earth-noted finish. It is going to offer more immediate appeal, so drink it over the next few years. 1050 cases were produced. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (6/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was raised in 50% new French oak and was entirely destemmed. Pouring a youthful, ripe ruby color, it’s highly aromatic with floral and fruity aromas of sweet cola spice, mixed berries, and preserved flowers. Medium-bodied, it retains good energy and freshness as well as wonderful purity on the palate, with fine tannins and a clean, chalky textured finish. It is a beautiful entry to the range and is going to have a wide window for enjoyment over the next 6-8 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
UV Lucky Well Vyd. Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$85 |
20 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (6/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir UV Lucky Well Vineyard offers a more lifted aromatic profile, with notes of medicinal herbs, spiced cranberries, cinnamon, and dusty earth. Coming from a site in the Green Valley developed by Ulises Valdez in 2008, it has lovely energy through the palate, with fine tannins and a more linear feel, with refreshing, even acidity and a clean, stony finish. It promises to improve with another year or two in bottle. Drink 2025-2037. 325 cases were produced. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Wohler Vyd. Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$59 |
11 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (6/2024): Pouring a deeper ruby red color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Wohler Vineyard was also raised in 50% new French oak and is perfumed and spicy with aromas of mixed of violets, black cherries, fresh forest, minty herbs, and sweet spice. Generous and approachable, it’s fruity all the way through the palate, with a ripe, easygoing feel, ripe tannins, and a clean finish. It’s going to show its best over the next 7-8 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Story of Soil |
2022 |
Martian Vyd. Gamay Noir |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (9/2023): The 2022 Gamay Noir Martian Ranch Vineyard is another gorgeous wine in this range from Jessica Gasca. A healthy dollop (50%) of stems add tons of aromatic nuance. Medium in body, savory and super-expressive, the Gamay is an absolute delight. The style is more floral and savory than fruity, with a good bit of tannin to back it all up. (Drink between 2023-2029). Anonio Galloni. |
|
| Three Sticks |
2022 |
Monarch Pinot Noir |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (1/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Monarch is a blend from the six estate vineyards. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, chalk and a kick of spice all grace this open-knit, charming Pinot. The 2022 will drink well on release. It’s quite enjoyable today. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| J.H. Wheeler |
2022 |
Rose |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Williams Selyem |
2022 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94 (6/2024): A youthful ruby with a magenta tone, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has lovely aromas of preserved cherries, fresh pine, black tea leaf, and incense. The palate retains lovely freshness and mouthwatering citrus, with fine tannins and a clean brightness on the finish. It's rather long on the palate, with ripe tannins, and has the structure to drink over the next 8-10 years.These are the spring releases from Williams-Selyem and were tasted with Vice President and Director of Winemaking Jeff Mangahas at the estate in the Russian River Valley. (Drink between 2024-2034). Audrey Frick.
WA 91 (10/2024): Matured for 11 months in 40% new oak, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is scented of red and black cherries and berries with notes of Earl Grey tea leaves and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate boasts powerful fruit and youthful new oak spice. It has a silky texture, rounded acidity and a flavorful finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Tissue-Stained Label |
$85 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 94 (6/2024): A youthful ruby with a magenta tone, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has lovely aromas of preserved cherries, fresh pine, black tea leaf, and incense. The palate retains lovely freshness and mouthwatering citrus, with fine tannins and a clean brightness on the finish. It's rather long on the palate, with ripe tannins, and has the structure to drink over the next 8-10 years.These are the spring releases from Williams-Selyem and were tasted with Vice President and Director of Winemaking Jeff Mangahas at the estate in the Russian River Valley. (Drink between 2024-2034). Audrey Frick.
WA 91 (10/2024): Matured for 11 months in 40% new oak, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is scented of red and black cherries and berries with notes of Earl Grey tea leaves and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate boasts powerful fruit and youthful new oak spice. It has a silky texture, rounded acidity and a flavorful finish. |
|
|
2022 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$83 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 93 (6/2024): Ripe ruby red-colored, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is lifted and bright in the glass with cranberry, currants, blood orange zest, and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, it's approachable and elegant, with refined tannins and a clean, lasting finish. It's beautiful and long, with a lovely, ripe feel through the finish, and it has a bit more richness in the tannins' structure. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.These are the spring releases from Williams-Selyem and were tasted with Vice President and Director of Winemaking Jeff Mangahas at the estate in the Russian River Valley. (Drink between 2024-2032). Audrey Frick.
WA 91 (10/2024): Matured for 11 months in 40% new oak, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast has layered scents of red cherries, blackberries, Angostura bitters and bergamot. The medium-bodied palate is supple, silky and inviting with bright acidity and a long finish laced with earth and spice. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Baron de Brane |
2019 |
Margaux Ex-Negociant |
$32.99 |
29 |
|
| |
VM 92 (2/2022): The 2019 Baron de Brane is a gorgeous second wine. Succulent black cherry, plum, spice and leather are front and center. This racy Margaux offers a compelling interplay of bright red-toned fruit and silky contours. Drink it over the next handful of years. Tasted two times.
JA 89 (10/2026): Inky plum colour, deep and rich damson and raspberry fruits, with touches of peony aromatics. This is good quality, confident stuff. An upscore from En Primeur.
JD 88 (4/2022): The second wine of Brane-Cantenac, the 2019 Baron De Brane is more Merlot-dominated and has a fleshy, medium-bodied, supple style as well as rock-solid aromatics of black cherries, cedar pencil, and chocolaty herbs. It's already drinking nicely yet should keep for a decade. |
|
|
2023 |
Margaux ex-Negociant |
$35.99 |
55 |
|
| |
JA 92 (4/2024): Baron de Brane once again sets the bar high once again in terms of 2nd wines, with fragrant floral aromatics, nuance and depth from the attack and continuing through the mid palate, firm tannins and concentrated black fruits. 20% new oak.
Decanter 92 (4/2024): Ripe and floral notes on the nose, really quite expressive and open aromatically. There’s a richness to the scents with ripe blackcurrants, cherries and touches of rose and violets too with some milk chocolate. Supple and tart, high acidity, juicy and ripe fruit, with crunchiness, quite lean but there’s great length with freshly picked mint and some cedar and herbal aspects. Crisp and clean, lovely purity and precision. Not so layered or plush but it’s fresh and inviting with lift and a lovely mineral undertone. Accessible. Ageing 12 months, 20% new oak. 14.5 press wine. Almost 100 IPT. 40% of production. (Drink between 2027-2038) |
|
| Ch. Boyd-Cantenac |
2020 |
Margaux |
$49 |
58 |
|
| |
| JA 95 (11/2025): Inky purple in colour with a fist of toasted oak on the aromatics, but here it is skilfully coupled with a punch of cassis and blueberry fruits, and a lift of violet flowers, and creamy smoked caramel. It's exceptionally good, for me the best of the lineup, with clear precision on show. One to look out for, easy to recommend. 80% new oak. Lucien Guillemet owner and winemaker. No external consultant. |
|
| Ch. Capbern |
2019 |
St. Estephe Ex-Negociant |
$32 |
32 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2022): I love the nose on the 2019 Château Capbern, a medium to full-bodied, spicy, rich, tobacco and cedar pencil-filled beauty with ripe yet building tannins, a great mix of richness and freshness, and a blockbuster of a finish. It's incredibly impressive, and while it offers pleasure even today, it deserves 5-6 years of bottle age, and I can't imagine it not evolving for two decades. (Drink between 2027-2042).
VM 89 (2/2023): The 2019 Capbern has improved since I tasted it just after bottling. Finally, it has developed a more elegant bouquet, mainly black fruit fused with cedar and undergrowth scents. It has mustered more classicism. The palate is medium-bodied with a strong graphite element on the entry, fine depth, quite fresh with a structured, gritty finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2045). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Cos Labory |
2018 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$49 |
16 |
|
| |
VM 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Cos Labory is fabulous. An extra kick of richness from the warm year and a bit more Petit Verdot than usual result in a Cos Labory that is wonderfully savory, powerful and layered. Black cherry, plum, cloves, chocolate and dried herbs build as this potent, exotically ripe Saint-Estèphe opens in the glass. Today, the 2018 is dark, brooding and in need of cellaring. Cos Labory is a bit wild, but that just adds to its considerable allure. (Drink between 2025-2043). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Cos Labory has a deep garnet-purple color, bursting from the glass with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry compote and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of roses, unsmoked cigars and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate has a very sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness supporting the rather delicately played fruit, finishing long and earthy/minerally. The structure stands out a little now, which I enjoy, but for those preferring softer, rounder expressions, give this a good 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15-20 years.
JD 90 (3/2021): Lots of rich red and black currants, tobacco, savory spice, and new leather notes emerge from the 2018 Château Cos Labory, a medium-bodied Saint-Estèphe with terrific overall balance, ripe, velvety tannins, lots of character, and outstanding length. It's well worth cellaring and drinking any time over the coming 15+ years. |
|
| Ch. de Francs |
2018 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux |
$20 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (3/2021): Bright cherry and mulberry fruits, a touch of cedary oak, and tobacco all emerge from the 2018 Château De Francs. Medium-bodied, with good overall balance and a clean finish, this is a solid, bistro-style drinker to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years. (Drink between 2021-2027) |
|
| Ch. de Pez |
2019 |
St. Estephe |
$44.99 |
18 |
|
| |
JD 93 (4/2022): Currants, plums, new leather, and cedar pencil notes all emerge from the 2019 Château De Pez, a nicely balanced, medium to full-bodied Saint-Estèphe that has plenty of classic character as well as class. With ripe, polished tannins and terrific purity, it can be drunk any time over the coming 20-25 years. (Drink between 2022-2047)
VM 92 (2/2022): The 2019 de Pez has gained tremendously in weight, power and substance. A wine of breadth and pure power, Pez possesses tremendous resonance and intensity, right out of the gate. Scorched earth, incense, plum, menthol and tar hit the palate. This rich, heady Saint-Estèphe has a ton to offer. Antonio Galloni.
WA 92-94 (6/2020): This year's blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 de Pez comes tumbling out of the glass with an astonishingly beautiful perfume of lilacs, black cherries and black raspberries over a core of stewed plums, clove oil, dark chocolate and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate is jam-packed with energetic black fruits, supported by a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed. I love where this once-malingering château is headed—bravo to winemaker Nicolas Glumineau from Pichon Lalande! |
|
| Ch. Fonbadet |
2019 |
Pauillac (375 ML) Ex-Negociant |
$22.99 |
22 |
|
| |
JD 93 (4/2022): Blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and some cedary, spicy, lead pencil notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Fonbadet, a medium to full-bodied, rich, mouth-filling Pauillac with plenty of tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, good concentration, and outstanding length. It will evolve for 20+ years if stored properly. (Drink between 2022-2044).
VM 93 (2/2022): The 2019 Fonbadet, impressive from barrel, has a delineated bouquet of blackberry, bilberry and touch of licorice that gains intensity with aeration; this is a Pauillac with ambition. The palate is medium-bodied with grip and density, broad shoulders and a very saline finish. This should age supremely well. (Drink between 2025-2050). Neal Martin.
WA 90 (4/2022): From a 12-hectare estate sandwiched in between Pontet Canet, Pédesclaux and Lafite, the 2019 Fonbadet offers up aromas of cassis, plums, cocoa nib and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, lively and creditably concentrated, it's built around powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully chewy finish. |
|
| Ch. Haut Simard |
2012 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (1/2016): The 2012 Haut-Simard offers good mid-palate depth for the vintage, with a distinctly gamy, pleasantly rustic personality that distinguishes it in the Vauthier family's range of wines. Tobacco, savory herbs, leather and dark-fleshed fruits open into the finish. The tannins are a bit rough around the edges, but otherwise this is a fine effort. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Joanin Becot |
2018 |
Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux ex-Negociant |
$29.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93 (3/2021): Emerging from the team of Beau-Séjour Bécot, the 2018 Château Joanin Bécot is based on 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc coming from the limestone soils of the Côtes de Castillon region. Lots of black cherry and redcurrant fruit as well as leafy herbs, dried flowers, chalky minerality, and camphor emerge on the nose. This carries to a medium-bodied, seamless 2018 with terrific overall balance, ripe yet present tannins, and outstanding length on the finish. Tasting like a topflight Saint-Emilion, it will benefit from a year or so in the cellar and impress for at least a decade. Readers looking for a brilliant Right Bank wine to put in the cellar should jump on this beauty. (Drink between 2021-2033).
WA 92 (4/2023): A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Joanin Bécot exhibits delicate aromas of blueberries, flowers and violets with touches of tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, it’s a lively, rather delicate wine with a fleshy core of fruit and a crystalline texture overlaid with a fresh, penetrating finish that has racy acidity. The wine will offer a broad tasting window.
VM 89 (3/2021): The 2018 Joanin Bécot has retained the earthy, cedar-tinged bouquet that takes a few swirls of the glass to emerge. There is crisp black fruit here, pine fresh. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine grip on the entry and dusky black fruit mixed with tobacco and sage. Almost Left Bank in style toward the graphite-tinged finish. This is fine Joanin that should drink well for 8–10 years. (Drink between 2021-2030). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. La Gurgue |
2016 |
Margaux |
$39 |
26 |
|
| |
| JS 93-94 (4/2017): Tight and chewy with currant and blueberry character. Medium body, a lovely center palate and a subtle finish. Pretty continuation to the 2015. |
|
| Ch. Labegorce |
2016 |
Margaux ex-Negociant |
$42.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JA 94 (3/2023): Concentrated but restrained with old school charm and an abundance of muscular tannins, it's easy to feel the heart of this wine, packed with liqourice, slate, black chocolate, cassis, brambled hedgerow, aniseed and fennel, with plenty of grip. Years ahead of it, an impressive wine in this exceptional vintage, offering good value. Harvest September 4 to October 21. 50% new oak, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck.
JD 94 (2/2019): From an estate on the uptick and showing beautifully on two separate occasions, the 2016 Château Labégorce is a head-turner of a Margaux that’s based on 52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was brought up in 45% new oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. Sexy notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed flowers, sandalwood, and incense all flow to a medium to full-bodied, fabulously textured Margaux that carries ripe tannins, loads of fruit and richness, and a great finish. Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate and the wines now play with the top in the appellation. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more. (Drink between 2022-2042)
WA 93+ (11/2018): The 2016 Labégorce is composed of 52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aged in 45% new and 55% one-year-old French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps out of the glass with gregarious cassis, kirsch and black raspberries, candied violets, dark chocolate and spearmint. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and with exciting intensity, it delivers a fantastically long, fragrant finish. 12,000 cases produced.
VM 93 (4/2026): The 2016 Labégorce has a very pretty nose with blackberry, briar, cedar and well-integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins, a little more acidity than its peers, segueing into a savoury, black pepper-tinged finish that shows admirable persistence and sapidity. This is a classy Margaux that is ageing with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2027-2042). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Lilian Ladouys |
2018 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$27.50 |
60 |
|
| |
JA 93 (7/2021): Owed by Jacky Lorenzetti (new owner also of Ch Lafon Rochet in the same appellation), this is one of those surefire estates that delivers St Estèphe power with a touch of luxury. There are layers of ripe black fruits and chewy tannins here, so it will benefit from a few more years in bottle or a serious carafing before drinking. 48hl/h yield, 35% new oak with both 225l and 400l barrels. Converting to organic farming as of 2020.
VM 92 (3/2021): The 2018 Lilian Ladouys is showing nicely now that the wine is in bottle. It has a riper bouquet compared to, say, the Calon-Ségur, more lush – a 2018 with wider appeal, featuring blueberry and cassis scents that soar from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that disguise the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It is not the most powerful Lilian Ladouys in recent years, safeguarding its linearity and strictness all the way through to the finish. But it conveys a sense of classicism and has abundant freshness that should see it age well over the next two decades. (Drink between 2023-2040). Neal Martin.
JD 92 (3/2021): A year-in, year-out value, the 2018 Château Lilian Ladouys checks in as 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new oak. Jammy blueberries, ripe cherries, damp earth, tobacco, and spicy wood notes define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a plump, rounded texture, opulent aromas and flavors, and a great finish. (Drink between 2021-2036) |
|
| Ch. Marsau |
2019 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux |
$29.95 |
60 |
|
| |
| Decanter 93 (1/2022): A svelte, seductive and seriously appealing 100% Merlot grown atypically on clay-dominant soils on one of the highest points of the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux. Wild strawberries, Morello cherries and subtle spices on the nose and palate, softly sweet, generous, round, plump, juicy and mouth filling, all harmoniously packaged and carefully balanced with freshness from start to finish. Complete and evocative with purity of expression. Seek it out. (Drink between 2023-2031) |
|
|
2022 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux 2023 en Primeur Release |
$29.95 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 92-94 (5/2023): This medium to full-bodied 2022 Marsau is an attractive wine produced from 100% Merlot. It has a delightfully pure bouquet of peony, violet, iris, menthol and cassis, followed by a crunchy and juicy yet fresh texture and then by a mineral-driven finish of remarkable purity, expressing elegant notes of licorice and pencil lead. Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier have produced a red wine that punches above its weight. Bravo!
JA 92 (5/2023): Floral notes on the aromatics, shows the heavy spice of the vintage with black pepper, rosemary and turmeric notes, begins to lift through the palate as it opens. An unusual spot in Franc Côtes de Bordeaux with a lot of clay in the soils, and this is powerful and concentrated, with a flash of heat on the finish. 12ha vineyard, entirely clay, entirely Merlot, organic since 2018, no till farming, 25hl/h yield. Harvest September 7 to 12, to be aged 80% large oak casks (no new oak), 10% one year old, 10% neutral oak and amphora. |
|
| Ch. Pibran |
2020 |
Pauillac Ex-Negociant |
$39 |
18 |
|
| |
JD 93 (3/2023): Based on 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 50% new oak, the 2020 Château Pibran is a classic wine in the vintage that has a pure, layered, medium to full-bodied style as well as textbook notes of darker berries, cassis, irone, and tobacco. With ripe tannins, a good spine of acidity, and plenty of texture, it's going to evolve for 15-20 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2023-2043).
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2020 Pibran is a potent wine. Black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and chocolate are nicely dialed up in this rich, heady Pauillac. Soft, plush and exuberant, Pibran is a total charmer. Best of all, it will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring. Bright acids and floral notes lift the finish. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni.
WA 90+ (4/2023): Aromas of cassis, raw cocoa, licorice and loamy soil introduce the 2020 Pibran, a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety wine framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. |
|
| Ch. Sociando Mallet |
2020 |
Haut Medoc |
$38 |
48 |
|
| |
JS 94 (12/2022): This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo! Neal Martin. |
|
| Clos Sainte Anne |
2018 |
Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux ex-Negociant |
$16.99 |
40 |
|
| |
|
| Esprit de Chevalier |
2020 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$28.99 |
26 |
|
| |
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 L'Esprit de Chevalier has a tad too much wood influence on the nose, but there is sufficient fruit to absorb it. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fleshy, lively and detailed, with a dash of white pepper toward the finish. This is another delicious, classically styled Pessac-Léognan. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2026-2042). Neal Martin.
JD 91 (3/2023): The 2020 L'Esprit De Chevalier is more restrained aromatically, yet has outstanding purity in its red and black fruits as well as notes of dried herbs, tobacco, chocolate, and damp earth. It's a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced, and certainly delicious second wine that will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and shine for a decade. (Drink between 2023-2033)
WA 90 (4/2023): Fleshy and demonstrative, the 2020 L'Esprit de Chevalier bursts with aromas of sweet berries, plums and petals. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with polished tannins and an expansive finish, it will drink well young. |
|
| Fleur de Pedesclaux |
2019 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$32.95 |
25 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2022): The 2019 Fleur de Pédesclaux, matured in 30% new oak, has been increasing its Cabernet Sauvignon since 2009, when it was pure Merlot (and also undergoing organic conversion since 2013). Raspberry, blackberry, cedar and light tobacco scents unfurl in the glass. The palate is still quite fleshy and rounded, and lightly spiced, retaining that hint of Chinese five-spice toward the tender finish. A lovely second wine. (Drink between 2023-2033). Neal Martin. |
|
| G. d' Estournel |
2020 |
Medoc ex-Negociant |
$32.99 |
39 |
|
| |
JA 92 (1/2023): So interesting tasting this against a wide range of AOC Médoc wines. It's a more expensive bottle than many of them, but it is confident, crafted and full of personality. Cocoa bean, espresso, plentiful berry fruit, touches of mandarin peel and lemongrass to lift things on the finish, slate texture tannins, good stuff.
JD 89 (2/2023): A terrific wine, the 2020 Goulee By Cos D'Estournel sports a healthy ruby/purple hue as well as ripe aromatics of currants, sandalwood, damp earth, and leafy tobacco. This medium-bodied, silky, juicy, ready-to-go Médoc is perfect for enjoying over the coming 7-8 years. (Drink between 2023-2031)
VM 89 (2/2023): The 2020 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is very pretty and aromatic. Élevage has filled out the layers nicely, but this remains a decidedly aromatic, mid-weight vintage for the château's Médoc. Sweet pipe tobacco, leather, mint, cinnamon and dried cherry build nicely in the glass. The 2020 has come together nicely. (Drink between 2024-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Le C des Carmes Haut Brion |
2022 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$44.95 |
60 |
|
| |
WA 94 (3/2025): The 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion is punching above its weight this year. Unfurling in the glass with a gourmand, lively and vibrant bouquet of raspberry, mulberries, rose, violet and cassis, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered with refined, velvety tannins and a deep core of fruit, concluding with a harmonious, elegant profile that avoids any excess, enhancing its distinctive personality. Guillaume Pouthier, Guillaume Deschepper and their team have done a fantastic job at this address, delivering an exceptional wine.
JD 94 (2/2025): The 2022 C Des Carmes Haut-Brion is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest 1% Petit Verdot that was fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged 12 months in a new foudre (there's a small part in used barrels) followed by four months all in concrete tanks. There are fewer stems in this cuvée as the vines are younger, and it has a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a spicy, peppery, complex perfume of darker berry and plum fruits, spring flowers, tobacco leaf, and a beautiful sense of minerality. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, elegant, and loaded with character, it's a singular Pessac-Léognan that will have two decades of longevity. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 92 (2/2025): The 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) from gravelly soils, will be kept for one year in bottle before release. It has 13.3% alcohol, reduced by the 30% whole cluster contribution with infusion rather than maceration, using a coffee plunger concept to push down the cap in the vat. It aged for one year in barrel and one year on foudres. The nose presents blackberry, clove and curry leaf aromas, with a touch more mint than before. The medium-bodied palate has slightly chalky tannins and is fresh thanks to the whole bunch contribution. Quite linear and a little Syrah-like towards the finish, this lovely wine will age well over the next 12 to 20 years. (Drink between 2028-2048). Neal Martin. |
|
| Les Fiefs de Lagrange |
2010 |
St. Julien (375 ML) |
$32 |
58 |
|
| |
| WA 89-91 (5/2011): A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot, this has a very fine nose of blackberry, briary and a touch of black tea. Good definition and purity. The Petit Verdot add a little edginess to this wine that has fine tension if lacking a little length on the saturated, slightly chewy finish. Very good purity and precision though. |
|
| Les Griffons de Pichon Baron |
2019 |
Pauillac Ex-Negociant |
$49 |
20 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2022): The second wine of this great estate, the 2019 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is a more Merlot-dominated release and is 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 40% new oak. It has a gorgeous nose of ripe blackcurrant and darker cherry fruits as well as tobacco, smoked herbs, violets, and freshly sharpened pencils. Vibrant, pure, and complex aromatically, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, has the vintage's pure, elegant character, terrific depth on the mid-palate, and outstanding length. It's a wonderful, already approachable Pauillac that will deliver the goods over the coming 20+ years. (Drink between 2022-2044).
VM 90 (2/2023): The 2019 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has a slightly evolved nose, red fruit mixed with melted tar and mixed herbs. The palate is better with firm tannins, fine acidity, quite a solid wine with admirable grip on the finish. Enjoy this over the next 10 to 12 years. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2035). Neal Martin. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Baron de Brane |
2023 |
Bordeaux Blanc ex-Negociant |
$25.95 |
32 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. de Rayne-Vigneau |
2014 |
Sauternes (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2017): A rich, exotic Sauternes, the 2014 de Rayne Vigneau exudes class. A mélange of apricot jam, wild flowers, mint and lemon confit fills out the wine's frame effortlessly. Ample, powerful and super-inviting, the 2014 shows beautifully today. This is one of the more over, extroverted Sauternes of the vintage. (Drink between 2017-2029). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-96 (4/2015): The Château Rayne-Vigneau 2014 could be one of the standouts of the vintage. It was showing a little new oak on the nose, though readers should note that this sample was taken from a new Burgundy barrel. There are touches of vanilla infusing the honeyed fruit. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry. This is very balanced and poised with superb tension, energetic but classy, a sophisticated Sauternes that feels persistent and long in the mouth. Talented winemaker Anne Le Naour has crafted another beauty from this estate that deserves more respect. |
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| Ch. Rieussec |
2024 |
"R" de Rieussec Bordeaux Blanc Sec ex-Negociant |
$39.99 |
60 |
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| |
| JA 94 (4/2025): This is succulent and precise, definitely one to look out, plenty of energy and lift through the palate, elderflower, citrus, white pepper, sage, lime zest, apricot, nectarine, saffron, steel and slate. Great stuff from Rieussec in this vintage. 3.15ph. |
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| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Michele and Patrice Rion |
2023 |
Bourgogne Bons Batons ex-Domaine |
$39.95 |
22 |
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| |
VM 88-90 (1/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Rouge Bon Baton comes from a parcel adjacent to Ghislaine Barthod's on stonier soils, aged mostly in one-year-old barrels. Lightly perfumed on the nose, this conjures raspberry, strawberry and wild hedgerow scents, more complex than your common or garden Bourgogne Rouge. The palate is medium-bodied with satisfying concentration, not weighty or dense but light on its feet with commendable purity and grip on the finish. Traces of tobacco emerge on the aftertaste. Village Cru in quality. (Drink between 2026-2031). Neal Martin.
JM 87-89 (10/2024): An even purple colour. A very attractive stylish perfumed floral nose, with a little more body than the regular. Not massively concentrated but distinguished in its length. Sound acidity. The flavours stay with you. Drink from 2026-2030.
BH 86-89 (1/2025): A slightly riper and more deeply pitched nose features aromas of dark cherry, poached plum and freshly turned earth. The delicious if not especially dense flavors do possess a lovely sense of underlying tension before culminating in a youthfully austere, lingering and mildly austere finale. This is also very good for its level and worth checking out. Drink 2027+. Outstanding! |
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| Dom. Patrick Javillier |
2023 |
Pernand Vergelesses Rouge ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
50 |
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| |
BH 89 (4/2025): Here too there is a mentholated top note to the fresh and more deeply pitched nose of poached plum, dark berries and more subtle earth nuances. There is better volume to the solidly concentrated middle weight flavors that possess both a finer texture and a discreet bead of minerality on the balanced, youthfully austere and slightly firmer finale. This is a quality Pernand villages. (Drink starting 2028).
JM 87-89 (12/2024): An even light crimson colour. While there is less fruit evident on the nose, there is more concentration than expected on the palate, with a certain density towards the back, in a crunchy strawberry raspberry style. Once the bouquet develops this will, become an interesting wine. |
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| Patrice Rion |
2023 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$32.99 |
44 |
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| |
JM 86-87 (10/2024): A fine red to crimson colour, with an agreeable immediate red fruit nose, no great concentration but nicely made. Perfumed with some cherries, a slight hardness at the finish still needing time to soften – recently racked – and good acidity. Some young vines in this. Drink from 2026-2028.
BH 86-89 (1/2025): (from Chambolle vines.) An expressive and fresh nose offers up notes of red and blue pinot fruit laced with earth and discreet spice nuances. The supple, delicious and fleshy middle weight flavors conclude in a refreshing and long finish where a touch of rusticity eventually surfaces. Solid quality here. Outstanding! |
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|
2023 |
Cotes de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes ex-Domaine |
$39.95 |
32 |
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| |
VM 89-91 (1/2025): The 2023 Côte de Nuits-Villages comprises two-thirds fruit purchased from Clombanchien, and the rest Domaine fruit from En Luret lieu-dit. Blackcurrant and raspberry combine nicely on the nose, not concentrated per se, yet showing decent clarity and purity. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly granular texture on the entry, lightly peppered though there are no stems in the blend. Focused and harmonious toward the finish, this is a worthy follow-up to the 2022. (Drink between 2027-2037). Neal Martin.
JM 89-90 (10/2024): A mix of their own vines, one third from Au Leurey, and the rest purchases in Comblanchien. There is more depth to the purple colour here. A perfumed nose with a more sensual and floral bouquet redolent of the sunshine. Good acidity behind, medium density, some length. Drink from 2027-2030.
BH 88-91 (1/2025): (mostly from Belle-Vue in Comblanchien with small amounts of Les Loges, Les Leurey and Vaucrains.) This is aromatically similar to the Bon Bâtons but with notably more spice influence. The supple, delicious and energetic medium weight flavors possess a highly seductive, even velvety, texture while displaying very good length and depth on the balanced bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. Drink 2028+. |
|
| Pierre Boisson |
2023 |
Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge |
$39.99 |
12 |
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| |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| Anne Boisson |
2023 |
Bourgogne Aligote |
$33.95 |
24 |
|
| |
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2023 |
Bourgogne Blanc Les Clous Perrons |
$47.99 |
12 |
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| |
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| Dom. Bessin-Tremblay |
2023 |
Chablis ex-Domaine |
$37.99 |
47 |
|
| |
BH 89-91 (10/2024): Cool and airy aromas include those of Granny Smith apple, citrus rind and ample Chablis character, especially seaweed. The delicious middle weight flavors possess a lovely texture, especially for a villages Chablis, while displaying a subtle materiality on the youthfully austere and lingering finale. Lovely. (Drink starting 2027).
JM 88 (6/2025): Bottled in March 2025. Pale lime green. Fresh and chiselled nose, some lime blossom all as minerals, Plenty of energy, not at all too fleshy, backward. Drink from 2025-2027. |
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| Dom. des Malandes |
2023 |
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu Ex-Domaine |
$49.95 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 91 (7/2025): The 2023 Chablis Mont de Milieu 1er Cru has a well-focused, quite animated bouquet that unfolds in the glass with touches of orchard fruit and grassy meadow. The palate is balanced with a fine bead of acidity. This is lightly spiced but just needs a little more tension on the finish. Overall, it's a very well-made Mont de Milieu that should age nicely in bottle. Tasted blind at the BIVB offices in Chablis. Neal Martin.
BH 88-90 (10/2024): (from a parcel of .26 ha). A funky nose of leesy reduction and lactic character. By contrast there is good freshness to the rich, generously proportioned and succulent medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a delicious if somewhat short finish. This should improve once it’s racked but it’s awkward today. Drink 2027+ |
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|
2023 |
Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey Ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
60 |
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| |
VM 90 (7/2025): The 2023 Chablis Vau de Vey 1er Cru, aged 50% in used oak, has a light, fresh apple blossom- and pear-scented nose with hints of pressed white flowers. The palate is well balanced with slightly honeyed citrus fruit and modest weight, though it needs more Neal Martin.
BH 89-91 (10/2024): (from a 3.52 ha parcel aged in 30% wood). A fresh, ripe and expressive nose reflects good Chablis typicity that includes quinine, sea breeze, lemon rind and cool white fleshed fruit. There is fine density to the delicious, intense and solidly voluminous flavors that offer better depth and persistence on the youthfully austere finale. Drink 2028+ |
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| Dom. Patrick Javillier |
2022 |
Bourgogne Cuvee des Forgets ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
60 |
|
| |
BH 87 (6/2024): Bright aromas of just sliced citrus, white peach and pretty floral nuances are complemented by delicious middleweight flavors that are supported by lemon-tinged acidity on the vibrant, lingering and refreshing finale. Moreover, this is not your usual 'pop and pour' Bourgogne as it has the legs to repay 4 to 7 years of keeping. Worth checking out. Drink 2027+. Outstanding Top Value!
JM 87-89 (10/2023): A similar colour, pale primrose perhaps. A little bit crisper and more classic in bouquet. Delicious white fruit, very balanced, feel the limestone, enough flesh yet with precision as well. A longer and more mineral finish than Forgets. |
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|
2023 |
Bourgogne Cuvee des Forgets ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JM 89-91 (12/2024): To bottle in the New Year. A fine mid lemon yellow with an engaging generosity of fruit already apparent on the nose. The Javilliers have manged to harness freshness with ripeness in a most engaging fashion. Apple and plum fruit throughout, with a fine long finish. Drink from 2026-2029.
BH 87 (6/2025): Smoky aromas include those of apple, pear and a pretty floral top note. There is fine density, particularly in the context of the 2023 vintage, to the attractively textured and punchy flavors that conclude in a supple and lingering finish that is perhaps a bit less dry than usual. Even so, this is lovely and worth considering. (Drink starting 2026).
VM 87 (3/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Cuvée des Forgets has a light grass clipping- and apple blossom-scented nose. The palate is fresh with admirable weight, more expressive than the aromatics at the moment, with citrus peel and a hint of apricot on the finish. Drink over the next five years. (Drink between 2025-2030). Neal Martin. |
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|
2023 |
Bourgogne Cuvee Oligocene ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 89 (3/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Cuvée Oligocène has a little more evidence of oak on the nose and a touch more yellow fruit than the Cuvée des Forgets. The palate is fresh and lively, mixing citrus lemon with orange rind and a dash of lemongrass towards the finish. Great value as always, this comes recommended. (Drink between 2025-2032). Neal Martin.
JM 89 (12/2024): Bottled end November. A slightly paler lemon yellow. Oligocene proposes a more cerebral aspect after the joyous Forgets. Ther is still an excellent concentration of ripe fruit, with a clear limestone backbone. Very good tension here with some lime notes as well as ripe lemon. Balanced and classy. Drink from 2026-2029.
BH 87 (6/2025): A more layered nose is comprised by notes of petrol, various white orchard fruit, acacia and a whiff of citrus confit. There is a bit more volume to the vibrant and utterly delicious middle weight flavors that retain a fine sense of detail on the drier, longer and more complex finale. This is an excellent Bourgogne and warmly recommended. (Drink starting 2027). |
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| Dom. Potinet-Ampeau |
2018 |
Bourgogne Aligote ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
59 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Bourgogne Blanc Ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
28 |
|
| |
|
| Patrice Rion |
2023 |
Bourgogne Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$32.99 |
60 |
|
| |
BH 86-88 (6/2025): Fresh and bright aromas include those of pear and apple compote, citrus rind and a hint of spice. There is equally good verve to the delicious and acceptably dense flavors that possess a succulent mid-palate that contrasts mildly with the youthfully austere and balanced finale. This could use better depth so a year, or perhaps two, of cellaring should help. (Drink starting 2026).
JM 86-87 (10/2024): A fine red to crimson colour, with an agreeable immediate red fruit nose, no great concentration but nicely made. Perfumed with some cherries, a slight hardness at the finish still needing time to soften – recently racked – and good ac |
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| Pierre Boisson |
2022 |
Macon-Villages au Poirier Chanin |
$46.99 |
12 |
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| |
|
|
2023 |
Macon-Villages Blanc |
$31.99 |
24 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Rully Blanc Les Cailloux |
$42.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Pierre Morey |
2023 |
Bourgogne Aligote |
$31.99 |
20 |
|
| |
VM 88 (3/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Aligoté, which had been bottled, offers lilting citrus peel and clementine scents on the nose that just need a little coaxing from the glass. The palate is well balanced with an underlying sapidity, slightly viscous in texture with veins of lemongrass towards the persistent finish. This is a fine upstanding Aligoté from Anne Morey. (Drink between 2025-2030).
BH 87 (6/2025): A textbook aligoté nose is comprised by notes of various citrus elements, spice and ripe green apple. The seductive, even suave, middle weight flavors possess excellent punch as well as an almost pungent minerality that seems to build on the bone-dry, youthfully austere and borderline rustic and tannic finale. This is an old school effort that will need a year or two of keeping first. A quality aligoté. (Drink starting 2027). |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. Coursodon |
2021 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
Decanter 92 (9/2022): Sparky herbal notes on the nose, with thyme and rosemary. There’s some roundness on the palate thanks in part down to the oak, which isn't overly dominating. Good presence on the palate thanks to the firm tannins, and a fairly long finish. A good option in 2021. 60-year-old vines, all destemmed, 15% new oak.
JD 90-92 (12/2022): The 2021 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie is rock-solid, offering pretty darker cherry and fresh fig-like notes as well as spice, game, and flowery incense nuances. This medium-bodied, supple, nicely balanced, and textured effort has outstanding potential and will certainly drink nicely right out of the gate. |
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|
2022 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93 (5/2025): All Syrah aged 15 months in barrel (15% new), the 2022 Saint Joseph Olivaie offers red and black fruits, leafy herbs, sappy flowers, and spicy wood. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins, it's a layered, elegant, and impressively made wine in a classic style. Drink bottles over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035.
VM 91 (1/2025): The 2022 Saint-Joseph L'Olivaie mixes leafy accents with graphite, black cherry and a touch of cedar on the elegant aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, round and refreshing, the 2022 is a delicious Saint-Joseph that’s already starting to drink well. Drink between 2025-2030. Nicolas Greinacher. |
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|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie Ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (5/2025): All Syrah, the 2023 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie brings another level of concentration, offering cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and classy oak on the nose. It has terrific purity, medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. The overall balance and purity here are exceptional.
VM 90-92 (1/2025): Cedar, black cherry, wood smoke and pencil shaving introduce the 2023 Saint-Joseph L'Olivaie, a medium-bodied, deeply hued Northern Rhône Syrah. Touching the palate with elevated flavor concentration, the 2023 handles the oak well. I look forward to tasting the bottled version. Nicolas Greinacher. |
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|
2020 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$31.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 93 (12/2022): Saturated violet color. Displays fresh-mineral-accented aromas of fresh red and blue fruits and candied flowers, with hints of savory herbs and black pepper in the background. Juicy and lithe on the palate, offering appealingly sweet cherry and boysenberry flavors and a touch of licorice. Finishes long and smooth, with resonating red fruit character and round, even tannins that come on late. Josh Raynolds.
JD 91 (12/2022): A great introduction to the wines of this terrific vigneron, the 2020 Saint Joseph Silice has classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery herbs, violets, and some obvious minerality on both the nose and palate. These carry to a medium-bodied effort with good acidity, firm yet ripe tannins, and outstanding length.
JS 91 (2/2022): An interesting nose of blackberries and blueberries with some graphite and leather adding interest. Robust structure for a St.-Joseph with plenty of pepper and spice, but the fruit is more than adequate to carry all this. Good length, if not tremendously complex. Sustainable. Drinkable now, but best from 2023. |
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|
2021 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$28.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 91-93 (12/2022): The 2021 Saint Joseph Silice is also beautiful, with a round, supple, layered style that shines in the vintage. Black raspberries, spice box, dried flowers, and hints of violets give way to a medium-bodied, up-front, charming, layered 2021 that certainly stands out in the vintage.
Decanter 91 (9/2022): Neat, well-balanced and fresh, with sappy acidity. It's a relatively light St-Joseph, as is common for the vintage, but they've found a good balance and reflected the vintage as well as it could be. Gently herbal streak and a touch of juniper. |
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|
2022 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
28 |
|
| |
JD 94 (5/2025): Showing the least amount of oak in Coursodon's lineup, the 2022 Saint Joseph Silice offers blackberries, peppery herbs, damp earth, and sappy flowers, all with remarkable purity and complexity. All Syrah, destemmed and aged 12 months in barrel, this cooler-fruited effort is terrific. Drink bottles over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035.
VM 92 (1/2025): The 2022 Saint-Joseph Silice unfolds with ripe black cherry, pencil shaving, black tea, crushed violet and gently leafy subtleties. Medium-bodied at most, the 2022 is a classic, age-worthy Silice that’s gently structured by ripe tannins. Drink between 2025-2035. Nicolas Greinacher. |
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|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice Ex-Domaine |
$31.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 92-94 (5/2025): The 2023 Saint Joseph Silice shows beautifully, with a pure, balanced, medium to full-bodied style as well as classic Saint Joseph minerality, the vintage's ripe red and darker, almost blue fruits, lots of spice and floral nuances, integrated oak, and outstanding length. All Syrah, destemmed and aged 12 months in barrel, it should shine right out of the gate
VM 90-92 (1/2025): The 2023 Saint-Joseph Silice evokes a classic aromatic profile so typical of the appellation. This accentuates its Syrah elegance through delicate graphite, red and black plum notes as well as spicy subtleties. The medium-bodied 2023 is shaping up to be a refreshing Saint-Joseph, closing with a resonant echo on the bright finish. It is very complete, even at this early stage. Drink between 2025-2033. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Grenache ex-Domaine |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (2/2025): Almost all Grenache the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Séguret Family Grenache was totally destemmed and spent 18 months in wooden conical trunk vats and barrels. It's a ripe, sexy, concentrated Grenache that has a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, black cherries, sandalwood, and peppery herbs. Reminding me of a great Gigondas, it offers medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. It will shine over the coming 10-12 years. |
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|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Grenache ex-Domaine |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (11/2025): This is gorgeous stuff offering black raspberries, violets, blood orange, and tons of peppery garrigue, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality. Based on 98% Grenache and aged 18 months in 600-liter oak containers, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Grenache Family Reserve is medium to full-bodied and has a pure, layered mouthfeel with remarkable purity and fine tannins. It will stand up to just about anything in the region, and there are 375 cases produced. Drink 2025-2040. |
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|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Syrah Ex-Domaine |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (11/2025): A bigger, richer wine, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Syrah Family Reserve offers blackberries, chalky minerality, pepper, and gamey, meaty nuances. Based on 98% Syrah from vines planted in the 1950s and aged 18 months in oak barrels, it's medium to full-bodied and has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel with ripe tannins. It will continue to drink nicely over the coming decade, and there are 333 cases produced. Drink 2025-2035. |
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|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Grande Reserve Ex-Domaine |
$27.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (2/2025): The 2022 Cotes du Rhone Villages Segurey Grande Reserve is based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spicy wood, and some meaty nuances all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a broad, layered mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. I love it today yet it's going to have a solid 10-12 years of prime drinking. |
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|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Loubie Rose ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
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2024 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Nana ex-Domaine |
$17.50 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Soubois Rose ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
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2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition Ex-Domaine |
$18.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 89 (2/2025): Blackberries, darker cherries, peppery garrigue, and plenty of curshed stone-like notes define the 2022 Cotes Du Rhone Seguret Tradition, a medium-bodied, structured, yet elegant Seguret that has tons of character. |
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|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition ex-Domaine |
$18.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (11/2025): The classic cuvée of this terrific estate, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Tradition offers red and black fruits, crushed stone, garrigue, and pretty floral nuances. Based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah and aged 20% in trunconic oak vats with 80% in concrete vats, it's medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with fine tannins and a good finish. This charming, balanced, elegant Seguret will keep for 5-7 years, and there are roughly 3,250 cases produced. Drink 2025-2032. |
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|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
24 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (11/2025): The classic cuvée of this terrific estate, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Tradition offers red and black fruits, crushed stone, garrigue, and pretty floral nuances. Based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah and aged 20% in trunconic oak vats with 80% in concrete vats, it's medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with fine tannins and a good finish. This charming, balanced, elegant Seguret will keep for 5-7 years, and there are roughly 3,250 cases produced. Drink 2025-2032. |
|
| Dom. Duclaux |
2020 |
Cote Rotie La Chana ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
29 |
|
| |
JD 89-91 (2/2022): Starting with the 2020 Côte Rôtie La Chana, which includes 7% Viognier, this has a ripe, up-front, charming style as well as classic Côte Rôtie black raspberry fruits mixed with spice and bacon fat nuances. It's going to drink nicely right out of the gate.
WA 89-91 (1/2022): Blended from several parcels and barrels for my evaluation, the 2020 Cote Rotie La Chana usually contains approximately 7% Viognier and sees no new wood. It shows attractive aromas of raspberries and apricot on the nose, a medium to full-bodied feel on the palate and a savory finish that nicely balances mouthwatering acids and softly dusty tannins. It should drink well for the rest of this decade. |
|
|
2022 |
Cote Rotie La Chana Ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
53 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Cote Rotie La Germine ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| Decanter 92 (10/2022): Spiced raspberry fruits on the nose, with a touch of blood orange. A dry, neat, compact style that will drink well young. Fine tannins reveal a gentle, light-bodied style with a good sense of freshness, if not concentration. Vines on gneiss, blonde soils. 20% whole bunch. Vinified in open concrete tanks. |
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|
2022 |
Cote Rotie La Germine Ex-Domaine |
$48.99 |
44 |
|
| |
JD 93 (5/2025): Incorporating 3% Viognier, the 2022 Côte Rôtie La Germine reveals a concentrated, rich, nicely structured profile of ripe black and blue fruits, crushed stone, and floral, sappy, gamey nuances. Medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth and a great finish, it was vinified with 20% whole clusters and aged 20 months in barrels and demi-muids (15% new). It, too, should have 10-15 years of longevity. Drink 2025-2035.
VM 89 (1/2025): The 2022 Côte-Rôtie La Germine evokes a fairly simple aromatic profile, opening with red and black cherry notes alongside touches of violet and spice box. Medium-bodied and refreshing, the 2022 is an elegant, early approachable Côte-Rôtie culminating with brightness on the moderately long finish. (Drink between 2025-2030). NIcholas Greinacher. |
|
| Dom. Vincent Paris |
2020 |
Cornas Granit 30 |
$44.99 |
20 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (2/2022): Starting with what could be considered the entry level cuvée, the 2020 Cornas Granit 30 comes from further down the slope, from vines closer to the village. That's obviously not a bad thing, since this plump, full-bodied, beautifully textured Cornas has remarkable purity and elegance as well as richness. Blackberries, blueberries, subtle smoke, graphite, and violets all emerge from the glass, and it has a seamless, incredibly elegant texture.
VM 93 (12/2022): Dark violet color. Dark berry preserve, licorice, olive and exotic spice aromas, with a hint of espresso in the background. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering spice-tinged cherry-cola, blueberry and candied violet flavors with a spicy snap of black pepper. The floral note carries through a very long, dark fruit-driven finish, where gently chewy tannins add shape and closing grip. Josh Raynolds.
Decanter 93 (10/2021): Very herbal, with leafy herbs like tarragon alongside woody herbs such as rosemary. Blueberry and liquorice too. Middleweight style, good concentration of fresh, juicy berry fruit and good persistence. Fresh, intense, gently saline and well-balanced. A good value pick this year. From 10-year-old vines, all destemmed. (Drink between 2022-2028) |
|
| Domaine les Goubert |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Sablet ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
30 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Gigondas Cuvee Florence ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
37 |
|
| |
| JD 91-93+ (10/2023): Slightly deeper hued, the 2021 Gigondas Cuvée Florence has a terrific nose of darker berries, sandalwood, white chocolate, and pepper. It's a concentrated, medium-bodied, balanced 2021 offering solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. Based on Grenache and Syrah that sees an extended élevage in barrels, it should benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and have a solid decade of prime drinking. |
|
|
2024 |
IGP Vaucluse Principaute d’Orange Miss Grenouille ex-Domaine |
$19.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Jean-Luc Jamet |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Rouge l’Enclave Ex-Domaine |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Rouge l’Enclave ex-Domaine |
$35.99 |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
IGP Collines Rhodaniennes Rouge Syrah Valine Ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
28 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Vin de France Syrah Valine ex-Domaine |
$31.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Mourchon |
2022 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Ex-Domaine |
$45.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (11/2025): A cuvée whose quality has soared over the past four to five years, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a brilliant effort in an arguably more challenging, heatwave-driven vintage. Sporting a ruby translucent hue, it boasts a brilliant perfume of ripe black cherries, redcurrants, peppery garrigue, and loamy earth with beautiful aromatic complexity. On the palate it's medium to full-bodied, has a ripe, layered mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a great finish. It's very much in the ripe, forward, sexy style of the vintage yet stays pure, graceful, and is just impossible to resist. It's not a long-term ager, so drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years. Drink 2025-2032. |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Ex-Domaine |
$14.99 |
54 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (11/2025): Lots of peppery red and black berry fruits, garrigue, and spice-driven aromatics emerge from the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône, with a hint of flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a juicy finish. It's one seriously good Côtes du Rhône that you could pretty much put up against anything in the appellation – count me impressed. This should have 10-12 years of prime drinking as well, and I'd be happy with a case in the cellar. Drink 2025-2037. |
|
|
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone ex-Domaine |
$14.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Dom. Coursodon |
2021 |
St. Joseph Blanc Silice ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (12/2022): The 2021 Saint Joseph Silice Blanc has a Burgundian-like sense of reduction as well as beautiful quince, white flowers, honeyed minerality, and a kiss of background spice and toastiness. It's medium-bodied and has a clean, classy style that's going to evolve for 7-8 years in cold cellars. |
|
|
2023 |
St. Joseph Blanc Silice ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
44 |
|
| |
JD 92 (5/2025): Based on 100% Marsanne, the 2023 Saint Joseph Silice Blanc reveals melon, honeyed flowers, spice, and toasted notes, showing impressive purity and cleanliness. It's fleshy on the palate, with beautiful balance and good purity, and while it has a slightly hazy color, it remains an impressive white. Drink bottles over the coming 4-6 years. Drink 2025-2031.
WA 91 (3/2025): Fresher and livelier than its Paradis Saint-Pierre counterpart, the 2023 Saint-Joseph Silice Blanc reveals aromas of confit citrus, spring blossoms and pear. Moderately weighted and delicately enveloping, it's juicy and layered with bright acids, concluding with a mouthwatering, floral finish.
VM 90 (1/2025): Flinty elements introduce the 2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc Silice, accompanied by notes of cedar, ripe pear, white peach and lemon flesh. Full-bodied, round and generous, the 2023 bundles vibrant energy and checks out with persistence on the sapid finish. This is an exquisite white Saint-Joseph. Drink between 2025-2027. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2024 |
St. Joseph Blanc Silice Ex-Domaine |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Soubois Blanc Ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
20 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (11/2025): Based on 90% Viognier and 10% Roussanne and aged in demi-muids with weekly bâtonnage for six months, the 2024 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Soubois Blanc shows a light gold hue and offers crisp stone fruit, honeyed flowers, and a hint of orange blossom. It's medium-bodied, fresh, focused, and crisp, with terrific purity and balance. There are 191 cases produced. Drink 2025-2029. |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Soubois Blanc ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. du Tunnel |
2024 |
Saint Peray Cuvee Prestige Ex-Domaine |
$48.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (2/2026): Honeyed melon, crushed stone, mint, and hints of orange blossom all define the 2024 Prestige, an incredibly pure Saint-Péray that has so much to love. It's medium-bodied, has undeniable minerality, and outstanding length. You could put this up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, and while it plays in the fresher style of the vintage, it brings tons of character. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2026-2041. |
|
|
2024 |
Saint Peray Marsanne Ex-Domaine |
$37.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2026): All Marsanne, the 2024 Saint-Péray Marsanne offers a gorgeous nose of honeyed quince, sappy white flowers, spice, and crushed stone. It's medium-bodied and has a focused, juicy, yet still nicely concentrated mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and outstanding length. It plays in the fresh, juicy, focused style of the vintage and will evolve gracefully over the coming decade. Drink 2026-2036. |
|
|
2024 |
Saint Peray Roussanne Ex-Domaine |
$45.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2026): Orchard fruits, honeyed mint, and sappy herb/floral nuances emerge from the 2024 Saint-Péray Roussanne, which is medium-bodied, juicy, fresh, and focused on the palate. I love its overall purity, and it picks up a beautiful sense of salinity with time in the glass. It has another decade or more of longevity ahead of it. Drink 2026-2036. |
|
| Dom. Duclaux |
2021 |
Condrieu Les Caillets ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
26 |
|
| |
|
| Jean-Luc Jamet |
2021 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc Couzou ex-Domaine |
$25.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 89 (5/2024): The 2021 Côtes du Rhône Couzou Blanc is based on Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier, all from more granitic soils. It has a light gold hue as well as a subtle nose of ripe stone fruits, honeyed orange, and spice, and it's medium-bodied, nicely textured, and nicely balanced on the palate. It has a good sense of freshness, but it's certainly a rich white that's going to shine on the dinner table. |
|
|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc Couzou Ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
43 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc Couzou ex-Domaine |
$34.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Mourchon |
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc La Source Ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
25 |
|
| |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc La Source ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| | Southern France |
| Ch. de Pibarnon |
2020 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$44.99 |
15 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2026): Under seven years of age, this 2020 Bandol Pibarnon keeps all its promises. It has taken time to develop and grow more complex, with delicate oak notes and others more smoky and typical of the terroir: sour cherry jam, leather, and precious wood. The texture is frank, coating, broad, and round, and the balance will confirm itself over the next 10-15 years. Best from 2027-2035. Antoine Petrus |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (5/2026): The 2021 Bandol leans fully into a classical style, opening with licorice, dried herbs, blackberry and peppery undertones as a beautiful spiciness grows steadily in the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, it is shaped by gently chalky tannins that lend real composure. The savoury finish is marked by pepper, subtle fleshiness and understated authority. (Drink between 2028-2046). Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (5/2026): The 2021 Bandol leans fully into a classical style, opening with licorice, dried herbs, blackberry and peppery undertones as a beautiful spiciness grows steadily in the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, it is shaped by gently chalky tannins that lend real composure. The savoury finish is marked by pepper, subtle fleshiness and understated authority. (Drink between 2028-2046). Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2023 |
Bandol Blanc ex-Chateau |
$49.99 |
27 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (7/2024): The elegant and perfumed 2023 Bandol Blanc from Château de Pibarnon is a real success this year, despite a challenging vintage in the region. It evokes aromas of citrus, spring flowers, curry leaves and white fruits mingled with spicy notes. Medium-bodied, perfectly balanced and fleshy, it has a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and a long, mineral and saline finish. This blend of 55% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc and the rest of a mix of other white grapes is an outstanding wine. |
|
|
2022 |
Bandol Rose ex-Chateau |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2023): The citrusy, mentholated 2022 Bandol Rosé was crafted with a blend of 65% Mourvèdre and 35% Cinsault and matured six months in barrels. It displays aromas of pomegranate, citrus, spring flowers, iodine, jasmine and crushed stones, followed by a beautifully defined texture, a fleshy core of fruit and racy acids that underpin a delicate, well-delineated and calcareous finish. It's going to drink nicely in its youth, but I suspect it will also age gracefully over the next 2-5 years.
VM 91 (5/2023): The 2022 Rosé is savory and sweet with a rich blend of rosemary, sage and tomato leaf, giving way to dried cherries. It's silky-smooth and round with a buzz of minerality and brisk acidity up front as ginger-spiked nectarine forms toward the close. This tapers off with a salty flourish. Spice and citrus notes keep the mouth watering. Eric Guido. |
|
|
2023 |
Bandol Rose ex-Chateau |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 93 (5/2025): The 2023 Bandol Rosé is a powerful, classy Rosé that delivers the proverbial “iron fist in a velvet glove.” Deep and rich, the 2023 takes its time in the glass, gradually unfurling layers of waxy cherry fruit, Mediterranean herbs, raspberry liqueur, , crushed oyster shell and dried apricot. There’s an impressive phenolic core and a wealth of complexity here, not to mention a long, long finish. This is a very serious wine with the stuffing to improve in the cellar. Billy Norris.
WA 92+ (7/2024): A blend of 65% Mourvèdre and 35% Cinsault, the 2023 Bandol Rosé from Château de Pibarnon offers up a delicate, complex bouquet of spices, licorice, red berries, lemon, spring flowers and herbs. Medium-bodied, enveloping and beautifully structured, it’s round and juicy with a delicate, lively core of fruit and a mineral, calcareous finish. This is a classical rosé wine from Bandol. |
|
|
2024 |
Bandol Rose ex-Chateau |
$37.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2025): The 2024 Bandol Rosé is another stunning wine from Provence. Revealing a complex, fresh bouquet of red berries, pomegranate, grapefruit and spices, it's medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and round, with a supple, elegant core of fruit supported by moderate tannins, finishing long and delicately saline. |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol Rose Nuances ex-Chateau |
$47.99 |
14 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2026): With the 2021 Bandol Nuances, Pibarnon produces a near-perfect rosé. The pale ruby color leads into spiced, smoky aromas of white pepper, redcurrant jam, and peppery touches, while numerous fine tannins coat the palate to provide power, character, and length. Drink now. Antoine Petrus. |
|
|
2022 |
Bandol Rose Nuances ex-Chateau |
$46.99 |
40 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Le Roc des Anges |
2016 |
Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Asterolide |
$31 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Les Restanques de Pibarnon |
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| | Alsace |
| Klipfel |
2012 |
Riesling Cuvee Louis Klipfel |
$18 |
18 |
|
| |
|
| | Champagne |
| Charpentier |
NV |
Tradition Brut Champagne |
$38.99 |
57 |
|
| |
|
| | Other France |
| Dom. Richard Rottiers |
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
54 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent was bottled a month before my visit. This has fine purity on the nose. The 20% used oak knits everything together nicely, though not as powerfully as the 2022. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, with fine tannins and red cherry and crushed strawberry notes leading to a smooth, easy-drinking finish. The 2023 is very fine. Neal Martin. |
|
|
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Champ de Cour Ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 92 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Champ de Cour was bottled one month before my visit. It has a lifted and more intense bouquet than the Mortperay, with floral scents of rose and violet emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied and well balanced, with supple tannins and a precise, graceful finish that lingers in the mouth. The 2023 is superb. Neal Martin.
WA 90+ (3/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Champ de Cour, aged in oak barrels, stands out as the most lavish offering of the lineup, showcasing deep sappy notes of prunes, cherries, licorice and cacao powder. However, it maintains a poised balance thanks to a refreshing edge of ginger spice and graphite. Full-bodied and with ripe acidity, the wine exhibits a firm structure that signals its aging potential with tightly woven, youthful tannins. |
|
|
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Dernier Souffle Ex-Domaine |
$27.99 |
59 |
|
| |
VM 93 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Dernière Souffle is bottled a couple of months later than other cuvées. It has redcurrant and cranberry aromas on the nose, with light earthy scents in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red berry fruit, more grip than the Champ de Cour and more substance on the finish. This positively brims with potential. Neal Martin.
WA 91 (3/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Dernier Souffle is a luscious fruit-forward wine, yet one of refinement, with notes of rose petals, juicy cherries, vine smoke and sweet spices. It's full-bodied, with ripe acidity and a concentrated, sappy-fruited core. This richness is framed by smoothly integrated tannins that impart a velvety texture, with a dimensional finish toned with graphite. This is a generously proportioned wine that will undoubtedly benefit from time in the bottle or, at the very least, a spell in the decanter to unwind. |
|
|
2022 |
Moulin a Vent Mortperay ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (4/2024): The 2022 Moulin-à-Vent Mortperay comes from clayey soils just below Fleurie; the vines here are 70 years old. It aged in old barrels sourced from Chablis. It has another mineral-driven nose but with more roundness and depth than the classic bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, very well-balanced and poised, touches of freshly rolled tobacco on the finish. Excellent. Neal Martin. |
|
|
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Mortperay Ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 90 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Mortperay comes from a parcel next to Fleurie on clay soils. It was bottled in January and offers Morello cherry, rose petal and cassis scents on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with finely knit tannins. This is pure and elegant in style, with touches of sour cherry and raspberry . Neal Martin.
WA 90 (3/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Montperay, slated for release in 2025, comes from 80-year-old vines located at the periphery of the Clos de la Roilette in Fleurie. The wine unfurls with a lush bouquet of stewed blueberries and cherries, accented by mocha spice and sweet soil. On the palate, the layered wine unfolds along a horizontal trajectory with subdued acidity that imparts a certain softness and density to its texture. |
|
| Pascal Aufranc |
2018 |
Julienas Les Cerisiers ex-Domaine |
$15.99 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Richard Rottiers |
2023 |
Brouilly Ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
20 |
|
| |
VM 89 (4/2025): The 2023 Brouilly comes from purchased fruit grown on granite soils. Pretty red cherry and crushed strawberry aromas blossom in the glass. The palate is well balanced and transparent, with light tannins. It's a little fleshier than expected, featuring brambly red berry and bergamot notes on the finish. It's lovely, though not long-term. Neal Martin.
WA 89 (3/2025): The 2023 Brouilly, from purchased grapes near Odenas, is a classic bistro wine. It's juicy, with notes of lilacs, raspberries and plums and tones of crushed stones that give the wine some dimension. It's medium to full-bodied, with a balanced density of fruit and bright acidity that keep it fresh. |
|
| | Germany |
| Weingut Georg Gustav Huff |
2020 |
Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Trocken |
$39.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
| | Italy |
| Antonio Vallana & Figlio |
2020 |
Gattinara |
$43.99 |
22 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (2/2025): Vallana's 2020 Gattinara is powerful, rustic and a bit rough around the edges, and yet it conveys so much genuine, uncomplicated character. Dark fruit, new leather, licorice, dried herbs and mint are some of the notes that take shape as this rambunctious Gattinara gradually opens in the glass. Don't look for finesse here. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cantina Tibaldi |
2023 |
Langhe Favorita ex-Domaine |
$23.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2024 |
Langhe Favorita ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$25.99 |
19 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Roero Arneis Bricco delle Passere Riserva ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
29 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Roero Arneis Bricco delle Passere Riserva ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Roero Roccapalea ex-Domaine |
$29 |
34 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Roero Roccapalea ex-Domaine |
$33.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Caprili |
2023 |
Rosso di Montalcino |
$21.99 |
21 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (1/2025): The bright ruby 2023 Rosso Di Montalcino jumps from the glass with bright mixed berry fruit, peaches, crushed flowers, and sweet tea. The palate is juicy, with a snap of fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a clean finish. This is a total charmer of a Rosso to drink now or over the next 5-6 years. (Drink between 2025-2031). Audrey Frick. |
|
| Cavallotto |
2022 |
Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo ex-Domaine |
$36.95 |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (4/2026): The 2023 Barbera D'Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo pours a youthful red/purple hue and was fermented in stainless steel before aging 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks. It opens with wild black cherries, delicate rustic earth, incense, and violets. Medium-bodied, it’s vibrant and well-balanced, with fine tannins and a savory citrus lift that carries through the finish. A traditionally raised Barbera with both energy and structure, about 8,000 bottles were produced. Drink 2026-2036. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$37.99 |
55 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$42.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (4/2026): The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo is aged for 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks and pours a youthful ruby red color. It offers a ripe perfume that’s a bit shy, but the palate really shines, offering ripe red berries, a bit of rustic earth, fresh tobacco, and incense. Medium-bodied, zesty, and refreshing, with a good balance of sunny pure fruit, fine tannins, and refreshing acidity, it’s a very appealing Nebbiolo to drink now or over the next 8-10 years. A star in this category, no doubt, it’s delicious and I would snap it up. Drink 2026-2036. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Luigi Maffini |
2021 |
Cenito Cilento Aglianico |
$43.99 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (5/2024): Wilted violets and ground cloves complicate a burst of dried wild blueberries and exotic spice as the 2021 Cenito smolders up from the glass. This is pure elegance—silky and polished, yet lifted and energetic, with a textural wave of ripe red and black fruits that flow across a stream of vibrant acidity. A caking of salty minerals mingles with fine tannins as the 2021 tapers off with staining length and youthful structure, leaving a tart blackberry concentration that puckers the cheeks. (Drink between 2026-2034). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2024 |
Kratos Fiano |
$24.99 |
45 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2026): Quite mineral-driven in style, the 2024 Fiano Kratos wafts up with salty sea air, crushed rocks and lemon-spiked green apples. The palate is zesty, with a bump of riveting acidity on the entry to energize its tart orchard fruits. It tapers off with sour lime and a saline saturation. Eric Guido. |
|
| Sottimano |
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$23.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2025): The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, all young vines from Basarin, is terrific. Pliant and expressive, the 2023 is a superb choice for readers looking for a wine that overdelivers. Macerated cherry, plum, lavender and blood orange open first. Exotic floral and spice overtones develop with a bit of time in the glass. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's textural depth and balance. The 2023 was done a modified, light style of submerged cap maceration for about a week that worked wonders. Élevage was nine months in cask. And the young vines are now nearly 30 years old! Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
20 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2025): The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, all young vines from Basarin, is terrific. Pliant and expressive, the 2023 is a superb choice for readers looking for a wine that overdelivers. Macerated cherry, plum, lavender and blood orange open first. Exotic floral and spice overtones develop with a bit of time in the glass. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's textural depth and balance. The 2023 was done a modified, light style of submerged cap maceration for about a week that worked wonders. Élevage was nine months in cask. And the young vines are now nearly 30 years old! Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Tenuta Cocci Grifoni |
2024 |
Tara Pecorino |
$15.99 |
37 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta di Carleone |
2022 |
Chianti Classico |
$34.99 |
20 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2025): This is one of the most original wines from the appellation. The Tenuta di Carleone 2022 Chianti Classico sees partial whole-cluster fruit and up to three months of extended fermentation. The wine opens to a medium-garnet color with a shiny element to its appearance. The bouquet is similarly bright and punchy with lots of tart red and blue fruits. Fruit for this 55,000-bottle release is sourced from across this 32-hectare estate in Radda in Chianti. This wine is extremely giving and bright at the moment.
VM 92 (7/2025): The 2022 Chianti Classico is gracious, elegant and polished, as these wines so often are. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, pine and light citrus overtones exalt the natural brightness of Sangiovese. This translucent, weightless Chianti Classico is a real beauty. (Drink between 2025-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Tenuta Santome |
NV |
Prosecco Brut |
$13.50 |
28 |
|
| |
|
| Ultima Pietra |
2025 |
Gemina Rose |
$40 |
23 |
|
| |
|
| | Port |
| Quevedo |
2006 |
Late Bottled Vintage Port |
$29.99 |
52 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Quinta Vale d’Agodinho Port |
$49.99 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| | USA Red |
| Behrens Family (Erna Schein) |
2005 |
Herrick-Moulds Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 91-94 (6/2007): Medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines currant, iron, mocha and pepper. Sweet, silky and pliant, with a captivating sugar/acid balance. This really vibrates on the palate. Finishes with suave tannins and terrific sappy, peppery length. This has the suavity and balance to age gracefully for a decade or more. |
|
| de Negoce |
2017 |
OG N. 123 Napa Valley Merlot |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
OG N. 480 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2011 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Slightly richer and more concentrated than the Signature Syrah, yet still playing in the elegant, seamless style of the vintage, the 2011 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard is 100% Syrah that was aged in 35% new French oak. Possessing beautiful black raspberry, currants, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality and hints of graphite, this beauty flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, fabulous purity of fruit and a seamless, silky texture that carries through the finish. Give it a year or two and drink bottles through 2024. |
|
|
2012 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
13 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2015): A similar purple/ruby, semi-opaque color to the Signature Syrah, the 2012 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard has more minerality (no doubt due to coming from Red Mountain) to go with lots of blackberry, graphite, pepper and crushed violet notes. Like the Signature Syrah, it shows the vintage nicely with lots of concentration, integrated acidity and a big finish, where the wine's structure becomes more apparent. It will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 10-15 years of overall longevity.
VM 92+ (11/2015): Good dark red. Lovely perfume of cherry, cranberry, white pepper, spices and dusty flowers. Lovely fine-grained Syrah with a savory restraint to its highly aromatic red berry and spice flavors complicated by a hint of game. Made from a slow-to-ripen Entav clone. Finishing quite firm, even a bit youthfully sullen, this already complex Syrah needs time to evolve. (Drink between 2019-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Donelan |
2013 |
Cuvee Moriah Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (7/2017): The 2013 Cuvee Moriah is 87% Grenache and 13% Syrah that’s all from the Dry Stack Vineyard in the Bennett Valley. It has a gorgeous (as well as complex) bouquet of ripe cherries, cranberry, dried flowers and incense. This carries to an ethereally textured, elegant Grenache that that has sweet fruit, medium-bodied richness and a great finish. It’s not going to make old bones, but it’s going to be impossible to resist over the coming 4-5 years. This may be my favorite vintage of this cuvee to date. |
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| Failla |
2012 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$45 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Girasole |
2019 |
Mendocino Pinot Noir |
$16.99 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Kutch |
2013 |
Falstaff Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$45 |
12 |
|
| |
VM 91 (1/2015): Rose petals, mint, spices and sweet red berries are all laced together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Falstaff Vineyard. This is the most lifted and aromatic of the wines in this range. The 2013 is intensely saline, lifted and perfumed. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy aromatic, mid-weight Pinots. The 2013 is all about precision and nuance. It is also a bit light, even within the context of this style. (Drink between 2015-2025). Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (10/2015): Notes of dried rose petal, anise, herbal tea, red currant and a hint of cinnamon introduce silky-textured medium-bodied flavors that deliver fine length on the dusty, balanced and lingering finale. This too will need a few years but less than either the Sonoma Coast or Bohan, as the overall palate impression is notably finer. Note however that the balance should allow this to age, and improve, gracefully for up to a decade. (Drink starting 2019). |
|
| Matthews |
2010 |
Blackboard Colombia Valley Red Wine |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2009): Dark red. Expressive aromas and flavors of currant, plum, tobacco, graphite and chocolatey oak. Supple and juicy, with moderate sweetness and flesh. Slightly tart acidity gives shape and lift to this blend, which finishes with dusty, building, oak-driven tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Colombia Valley Syrah |
$20 |
20 |
|
| |
| VM 91+ (12/2013): (15.4% alcohol; aged in once-used puncheons and once-used barriques ): Saturated bright ruby. Very primary, dark aromas of blackberry, licorice and illegal resiny herbs, lifted by a high-pitched violet perfume. Dense, juicy and suave but quite tightly wound in the style of the vintage. Dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors work more savory than sweet. This very young, long wine finishes with very fine-grained, suave tannins and a hint of bitter chocolate. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Newton |
2019 |
The Puzzle Red Wine |
$49 |
55 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (2/2023): The 2019 Red Blend The Puzzle checks in as mostly Cabernet Sauvignon but includes 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 1.5% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot. This vivid blue-hued 2019 has a great nose of both black and blue fruits as well as sappy green herbs and crushed stone. Almost austere on the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, has firm tannins, good mid-palate depth, and outstanding length. I’d give bottles at least 3-4 years in the cellar. (Drink starting 2026). |
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| Sojourn Cellars |
2022 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (6/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was raised in 50% new French oak and was entirely destemmed. Pouring a youthful, ripe ruby color, it’s highly aromatic with floral and fruity aromas of sweet cola spice, mixed berries, and preserved flowers. Medium-bodied, it retains good energy and freshness as well as wonderful purity on the palate, with fine tannins and a clean, chalky textured finish. It is a beautiful entry to the range and is going to have a wide window for enjoyment over the next 6-8 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Sullivan |
2003 |
Estate Reserve Merlot |
$50 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Varner |
2014 |
Spring Ridge Vyd. Upper Picnic Bloc Pinot Noir |
$45 |
53 |
|
| |
VM 95 (8/2018): The 2014 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic is all class. Silky tannins and expressive, perfumed aromatics give the wine unreal finesse. Just as compelling on the palate, the 2014 is absolutely exquisite in its understated, nuanced expression of the Santa Cruz Mountains. What a gorgeous wine it is. The Upper Picnic is the most elegant of these four Pinots. (Drink between 2018-2026). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (2/2019): I loved the 2014 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic Block Spring Ridge Vineyard. This beauty boasts fabulous red fruits, spice, dried flowers, and rose petal notes, with a hint of California bay leaf developing with time in the glass. Possessing a silky, rounded, elegant texture, medium body, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish, it’s a truly thrilling Pinot Noir that can be drunk today or cellared for 7-8 years. (Drink between 2018-2026). |
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| Vincent Wine Co. |
2017 |
Bjornson Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$35.99 |
18 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2020): Brilliant red. Highly expressive aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and candied rose, along with a hint of smoky minerality. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show fine definition and back-end lift. Intensely flavored and finely delineated, with an impressively long, perfumed finish that delivers firm mineral cut and resonating florality. (Drink between 2022-2029). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | USA White |
| Bevan Cellars |
2021 |
Dry Stack Vyd. Sauvignon Blanc |
$35 |
13 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (8/2022): A blockbuster of a Sauvignon Blanc, Bevan's 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Stack Vineyard comes from an Italian clone planted in gravelly soil in the Bennett Valley and is raised, I believe, in barrel. Bottled unfiltered so it has touch of haziness in its gold hue, it offers a heavenly bouquet of caramelized lemon zest, mint, orange blossom, honeyed flowers, and brioche. Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, it has incredible concentration, a layered, pure mouthfeel, good freshness, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's not for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors and has the weight and richness of a great Chardonnay. Drink this beauty over the coming 2-3 years. |
|
| Bunnell Family Cellar |
2012 |
Helene Yakima Valley White Wine |
$20 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Convene (Dan Kosta) |
2021 |
Russian River Valley Chardonnay |
$48.99 |
50 |
|
| |
| Decanter 98 (2/2024): Dan Kosta and Shane Finely have worked together since 2006, when Finley, at age 26, began working in the cellar at Kosta Browne. These guys are having a lot of fun with Convene, the label Kosta launched in 2019. After their entry-level bottlings, the Convene label represents the 'Premier Cru' level wines, while DK Grail is the 'Grand Cru' tier. They are unquestionably 'Holy Grail' worthy. Finley and Kosta are big fans of longer ageing and extended lees contact with their Chardonnays. We tasted in February 2024, and they'd just bottled their 2022s. Super expressive nose with wonderful ripe fruit flavours alongside butterscotch and toasty brioche. Wonderfully rich and full-bodied with plenty of salty mineral tension. Partial malolactic fermentation means the wine retains great tension, vibrancy, and freshness. Flavours run the spectrum from Meyer Lemon to apricots and white peaches. Crushed Marcona almonds are entangled in the finish, and I find this a balanced expression of California Chardonnay with the right amount of toasty richness and acidity. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2016 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Gambal Work |
2017 |
Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
45 |
|
| |
|
| Girasole |
2019 |
Mendocino Chardonnay |
$10 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Hourglass |
2024 |
Estate Sauvignon Blanc |
$33.99 |
24 |
|
| |
JD 94 (12/2025): Based on 86% Sauvignon Blanc/Musque and 14% Semillon from Napa and Sonoma County fruit and aged six months with 30% in oak barrels, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc offers classic, fresh lime, ripe citrus, mint, and stony minerality aromatics. It's medium-bodied, has a bright, fresh, focused, pure mouthfeel, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. There are roughly 2,600 cases produced. Drink 2025-2035. (Drink between 2025-2035).
VM 90 (11/2025): The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is an airy, gracious, aperitif-style white drink now and over the next few years. Citrus peel, sage, tomato leaf and mint are all finely sculpted. (Drink between 2025-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Lewis Cellars |
2016 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay |
$36 |
19 |
|
| |
|
| Scherrer Winery |
2019 |
Scherrer Vyd. Chardonnay |
$43.99 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Scherrer Vineyard is a powerful, wild wine. Soaring aromatics and a deep structure give this Alexander Valley Chardonnay tons of character. Orchard fruit, mint, tangerine oil and dried flowers all open in the glass. There's something exotic about the 2019 that is undeniably appealing. The creamy, substantial finish is a thing of beauty. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2023 |
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Stony Hill |
2024 |
Chardonnay |
$43.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| Decanter 94 (2/2026): Fruit from 1967-planted vines, the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Napa Valley, is at Haynes and Quartz Creek on alluvial soils. This wine balances plush fruit, fleshy pears, 30% new oak for 10 months, and only partial malolactic fermentation. This is a wine of elegance that balances white peach flesh, mineral-driven, mountain Chardonnay, and is oh so fresh. (Drink between 2026-2034). |
|
| | Other White |
| Quevedo |
2011 |
Oscar’s White Douro |
$9.99 |
31 |
|
| |
|
|