2022

It's said that 150 years before Dom Perignon started to try to get rid of accidental fizz in Champagne, the monks of Limoux outside of Carcassone were making bubble on purpose. Their successors certainly keep the party going... Read More

Lower ABV A lovely blend of rich texture and vibrant, refreshing, flavors. As Wine Enthusiast said of the 94 point 2019, This wine brings the notion of a spring mountain meadow to life on the nose. There are hints of chervil and... Read More

As always, a benchmark interpretation of Virginia's most prominent red wine grape made in a rich but balanced and highly drinkable style. The 91 point review from JamesSuckling.com gives you a great idea of what to expect:... Read More

Morgan Twain-Peterson crafts this bold, gutsy, California red from a mixture of vines growing in some of the country's most famed old-vine sites. The base is Bedrock Vineyard (planted 1888), Nervo (1896), and Sodini (1905)... Read More

Like their Etna Bianco, Etna pioneer Benanti’s Etna Rosso is a blend of multiple vineyards on the volcano’s northern and southern slopes and is built for pure pleasure enjoyment! As Vinous says, it “wafts up... Read More

Lower ABV A tremendous Bourgogne Pinot Noir here with the richness of volume you’d expect in 2022 plus true elegance, finesse and structure to pair with food and reward time in cellar. No surprise to us that Burghound named... Read More

The old-vine specialists at Birichino go back to a 19th century vineyard with 100 year-old vines to create Mouredre that's full of dark fruit and earthy notes with a crisp, long, finish. Just 12.5% alcohol and 180 six-packs... Read More

From all estate fruit fermented and aged in French oak, this is richer, deeper and more ripe-tasting than many Willamette Valley Chards. As Suckling says in the 92 point write-up, “A substantial and well-balanced wine that... Read More

A tremendous bottle of Eola Hills Pinot made from estate fruit with just a little whole cluster and a lot of style, charm and power. We love the silky feel to the spiced red berry fruit and an enlivening twist of orange peel at... Read More

Just a delightful, ready to love, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from a blend of Estate and Van Duzer Vyd fruit. The dark raspberry and red cherry fruit are delicious and fun and buoyed by a lift of red berry acidity and fine, light,... Read More

Former NE Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe continues to make an all-star name for himself in the world of Walla Walla wine. This is about 75% Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot, Cab Franc and Malbec and deliver rich blackcurrant... Read More

A nicely chunky, gutsy, Rioja loaded with black fruit and finishing fine and firm with the oak well integrated into the fruit. As Vinous says in the 93 point review, “The fruit-forward aromas showcase cherry and blackberry... Read More

Organic/Bio As Vinous says, Gilberto Bonipert is one of the rising stars of Alto Piemonte, the region above Barolo and Barbaresco that reaches into the foothills of the Alps. This is his all-steel Nebbiolo and it’s a treat... Read More

“Gulpable” Chianti Classico isn’t really a thing, but maybe it should be? This blend of 90% Sangiovese plus Merlot and Colorino aged in big Slavonian oak casks would be a fine example. It’s bursting with... Read More

Organic/Bio Vincent Boyer has moved his old family estate to organic farming and now gives his wines two years elevage – one in 5-8 year-old barrel and a second in concrete egg. This wine, from sites in lower Meursault,... Read More

I believe the technical tasting note for this wine, as approved by all the most serious wine writers, is: Hubba Hubba. There’s this thing white Burgundy winemakers do where they let the wine sit in the barrel on what’s... Read More

Natural Not “really” a Pet-Nat, but definitely that vibe is in play here in this wild and frothy blend of New Zealand Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Noir. The base wines are made separately and then blended, bottled, given... Read More

Winemaker Neil Koch has worked with superstar Philippe Melka at benchmark Napa Cab houses like Seavey Vineyards, Bryant Family and Vineyard 29 and helped make the bold whites and Chardonnays of Lewis Cellars as assistant winemaker... Read More

At any other winery, this would be their top Pinot Blanc, if not their top white overall. It's from a super-steep, mountainside, site with barren quartz soils and huge swings in day/night temperature. Wine Spectator describes... Read More

Pinot Nero has been growing here since the 19th century and always does best at 450-600 meters elevation, where warm summer sun is balanced by cool mountain nights. The 2022 is lovely - as Wine Spectator says, This harmonious... Read More

There’s a good argument to be made that the best place in the world to make dry Chenin Blanc is Savennieres, on the north side of the Loire river across from Coteaux du Layon (where sweet wines reign). This is a benchmark... Read More

Topline: This is crazy delicious Pinot Noir and very fine red Burgundy that's seriously under-priced. Grab it before the market catches on. Caroline Fyot and Alexia Russo created this small estate in Mercurey in 2018 and make... Read More

When you hear Chateauneuf is 100% Grenache from 100+ year-old vines in a warm vintage, you can be pretty sure the wine is “big.” But here it’s also a “chiseled, intensely perfumed Châteauneuf-du-Pape... Read More

White Lirac must be, by law, a blend so the label says there’s 1% Grenache Blanc. But it’s really 100% Clairette from vines that survived the phylloxera epidemic of the 1860s and ‘70s here in the southern Rhone... Read More

Until 1920, the wines here were labeled “près Saint Emilion” reflecting the way the soils of its next-door neighbor continue into Castillon. And this blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc aged in old oak... Read More