2022 Wine

As the winery writes, Andrew Murray has been singularly and nearly maniacally focused on crafting Syrah for 25 years. His Everyday (in French Syrah “Tous les Jours”) Syrah from Santa Ynez gives you a good idea of how... Read More

Organic/Bio While Stephen Hagen and his team are fine winemakers, the real story here is winegrowing. Stephen’s unique “grazing based viticulture” replaces herbicides, mowing, plowing and fertilizers with something... 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

The label is confusing, but this is 100% Columbia Valley fruit that's turned into wine in Paso Robles by Fiction & Field Recordings winemaker Andrew Jones. It's 100% Cabernet aged in a 50/50 blend of new and seasoned French... 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

Organic/Bio Lower ABV If you think this is impressive right now (and it is!), just wait until you give it some time in decanter or a year or two in cellar. Plenty of succulent fruit but also amazing old-vine intensity from a large... 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

One of the longest-running high-quality “value” Pinots we know of. As Robert Parker said of the 2013 edition: An authentic tasting Pinot Noir that sells for a song. Aromas of sweet red and black cherry fruit intermixed... 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

Robert Parker called the 2011 edition of this perennial favorite value red, “Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world.” As usual, it’s a blend of around 85% Garnacha plus Tempranillo and a... 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 Lower ABV Mersault’s Vincent Boyer and Languedoc’s Emmanuel Lucas de Bar created this project to make wine together in both regions. The fruit here is from just outside of Meursault near Volnay, is fully... 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

Organic/Bio Suckling says in the 92 point review, “A serious, textured and delicious Chianti Classico. The nose expresses notes of spiced cherries, warm herbs and baking spices. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins.... Read More

A delightfully plump and easy Grenache/Syrah blend from this value-oriented Chateauneuf du Pape estate. Done all in tank, the fruit comes first here with enough earthy complexity to hold your interest. As Wine Spectator said of... 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

One of the most wildly delicious and complex not dry wines we know of. You can call it sweet if you like and it will certainly do magic with an apricot upside-down cake. But we'll be drinking our bottles before dinner (or... 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

Lower ABV From northeast of Turin, on the road to Valtellina, this shows a mountain wine character in a blend of 75% Barbera and 25% Merlot done in steel. It’s cool and fresh with darkly ripe, still tangy, fruit like redcurrant... Read More

Organic/Bio Pablo Calatayud went to wine school and returned home in the late 1990s for one reason: to prove his home town of Clariano in the southwestern corner of Valencia could produce great wine. After starting off on the... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV They are one of the leading producers in all of Entre Deux Mers currently, and for good reason. With the idea of sustainability at the forefront, they have cultivated their grapes using conscientious farming... Read More

A really well-made Bordeaux bargain here in the form of a 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend aged in oak and steel. The aromas show brambly cherry/currant fruit with a touch of smoky oak spice. Classically structured on the... 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