2020 is a solar vintage yet the wines show a lot of freshness. The yields are low but the quality is excellent with a perfect degree of ripeness. The harvest was early in the year under scortching weather and came to an end...
92-93 JS / 90 WA / 90 JD / 90 JA / 90 DE A tight, linear red with lots of currants, salt and cloves on the nose and palate. Really spicy. Medium-bodied with firm, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. A new wine from the...
95-98 JM/ 96 DE / 95 BH Pale lemon and lime. The bouquet shows all the majesty of this vineyard without the over-ripeness which I have found in some past vintages. 29 hl/ha. Superb intensity with a measured ripeness...
92 WS 500 Cases Produced A brisk, energetic style, with densely packed flavors of lemon curd, jasmine, gooseberry and verbena coiled around a firm spine of minerals and tangy acidity. An invigorating wine, with notes of...
100 WE / 99 VM / 99 JS / 96 DE Cellar Selection. Ethereal aromas of peach nectar, apricot preserves, orange zest and candied almonds waft from the glass. Full texture and luscious flavors of caramelized pineapple, orange...
99 WA / 99 JS / 96 VM#2 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2022#21 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2022 The nose of the 2020 White Bones Chardonnay is an explosion of thyme and rockrose, aromatic, open,...
99 JD / 98 DE / 96 WCI / 96 FS / 95 VM / 16.5 JR I was blown away by the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Chaupin, a 100% Grenache release that comes almost exclusively from the Chaupin lieu-dit in the northern part of the...
96 JS / 95 JD / 94 VM / 16+ JR This youthful 2020 Chateauneuf is enormously spicy, the red fruits character coming through more prominently on the generous and precisely contoured palate. Deep fine tannins are married to a...
90 DE Initially a bit restrained on the nose, on the palate it opens to show no lack of substance and structure, with subtle, waxy aromas of ripe apple touched with honey. From just over 0.25ha in the lieu-dit Les...
98 JS / 96 WA / 96 DE#11 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Australia 2021 A pristine nose of ripe and intense blackberries, blueberries and redcurrants, as well as some sanguine, rust-like notes. This is an excellent...
99 TA / 98 WA / 97 JS / 97 VM / 96+ WI / 96 DE / 96 JA / 95 WE#62 Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2023#6 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Argentina 2022 The 2019 Cheval des Andes, a blend of 50% Malbec...
98 JS / 98 JA / 98 WI / 98 WS / 97 WA / 97 VM / 97 DE This has a complex array of blackberries, black cherries, cocoa, dried herbs, slate, tobacco, olives and charred bark. Some dried roses and iodine, too. Medium-to...
Petillant Naturel Rose of Pinot Noir. From Jerry's (Hollow Oak Vineyard), Chehalem Mtns, 500 ft elevation. 6 acres, farmed soley by Jess Miller. No-till, non-certified organic farming practices...
100 JD / 100 DE / 100 RP / 97 WA / 97 JS I continue to think the 2009 Château Haut-Bailly is the finest wine from this estate to date. It exemplifies the inherent elegance and finesse of this terroir while...
92 JS / 92 VM / 91 WI / 91 WA / 91 JD This has aromas of blackberries, porcini mushrooms, tobacco and charred bark. It’s medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins. Savory, with plenty of earth and mineral character...
96 WA / 96 IWR / 96 FS / 94 JS / 93 VM / 93 WS / 93 DE / 17 JR This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and...
95 WS / 92-95 JM This white starts out rich, with an incisive attack, displaying flavors of white flowers, white peach, lemon and mineral. Builds to a long aftertaste, gaining precision from beginning to end. Drink...
94-97 JM This flagship wine is now maturing slowly in a 25hl tank having been blended. The colour is clean with a green tint, the bouquet suggests power but is backward. Enormously steely, with the flesh only...
94 VM The 2019 Chardonnay Bassi Vineyard emerges from a site in San Luis Obispo that has started to produce some pretty interesting wines. Citrus peel, chalk, white flowers and a touch of reduction are the signatures. I...
94 JM In magnum format. The Collection 241 was only released in large format (magnum and above) and aged an extra year to allow a side-by-side release with the 2017-based Collection in bottle. In the three years since...
91 WE This wine's shy nose reveals only lemony hints of chalk. Touches of Mirabelle appear on the palate alongside more notions of chalk and lemon, presented against a textured backdrop on a taut body. The finish is dry,...
97 WE / 96 JS / 93 WA #36 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Austria 2020 A still shy nose is not ready to give up its secrets easily, despite much swirling and air. It is the palate that lifts the veil on the citric...
92 BH The climat “Petits Cazetiers” is in the natural prolongation of les Cazetiers and at the bottom of the Combe aux Moines, on marl-limestone. It is facing due east and particularly well protected from bad...
96-98 WA The 2019 Jesuitengarten GG displays an intense lemon color and opens with a rich, intense and refreshing bouquet of lemon oil intermixed with vanilla and yeasty aromas and notes of crushed stones and blossoming...
97 WS / 95 DE / 95 WA / 95 JM / 93 BH A white of mouthfilling proportions—part vintage and part appellation—exhibiting peach, lemon cake, hazelnut and lime blossom aromas and flavors. Majestic and complex, its...
93 WA / 90 DE Disgorged in June 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, the 2015 Brut Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or reveals inviting aromas of golden orchard fruit, pear, freshly baked bread and citrus zest. Medium to...
92 VM / 92 DE Dark violet. Displays spice- and smokeaccented dark berries and licorice on the nose, along with a floral top note. Plush and open-knit, offering sappy blackberry, cherry and allspice flavors that slowly firm...
Why would anyone be surprised at all by this wine? Fox Hill is an incredible vineyard site and has proven it's merit in numerous ways with numerous producers in both red and white format. But for die hard...
95 JD / 94 VM / 92+ WA / 92 DE / 17 JR Beautiful violets, wildflowers, Asian spices, lavender, and Bing cherry fruits all soar from the glass of the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape. This full-bodied, beautifully textured,...
95 WA / 92-95 JM / 92-95 BH They have the plot along the road that divides the steep slope from the crest, which plateaus out and gets E/SE/SW exposure. Pale lemon colour, rich sunny nose, chalky undertones. This has the...
95 JS / 95 FS / 93 WS / 93 DE For an 8-year-old champagne this is extremely vibrant, the red-fruit character from the pinot noir grape rather in the background. Quite a strict style with discreet lees creaminess. However...
92 CT
95 WA / 93 JA Composed of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Grenache, and 7% Counoise, the 2018 Odyssée has a deep garnet color, bursting from the glass with a whole array of exotic spices notes—cumin seed, star...
98 JS / 98 JA / 98 DE / 96 VM #98 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2021 Extraordinary aromas of white peaches, apricots, vanilla and flowers. Full-bodied and very sweet with so much sweet and dried fruit, such as apricots...
97 DE / 95 JM / 94 JS / 94 WE / 93+ WA / 92 VM / 92 WS / 92 VP / 17 JR Decanter Wines of the Year 2021#76 Wine Spectator Top 100 2021Vinepair Best Champagnes of 2021 Softly shimmering straw gold, green tints, with a...
99 JS / 97 VM / 17.5 JR Welcome to the riesling deep end! Try to climb out if you can, but I don't want to! Although this is almost 20 years old there's a kaleidoscope of dried fruit aromas which also make this one of the...
96 DE / 94-96 WE / 95 VM / 95 WA / 93 WS / 93 JS / 17 JR A more refined expression than in La Chapelle, but I would strongly recommend going for La Chapelle right now. as these tannins remain fairly closed at the moment...
97 WA / 97 JD / 97 WE / 96 VM / 95 WS The 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides is another huge success for the team at Saint Cosme, boasting complex aromas of roses, dusty earth, cigar box, asphalt and dark fruit. The plums and...
92-94 WA / 89-91 BH The 2014 Morey St Denis 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes, obviously from the oldest vines courtesy of premier crus dating back to 1936, has a precise, mineral-driven bouquet that seems so crystalline. The palate...
92 BH Note: exclusively from 1er fruit Tasting note: A more restrained nose reluctantly offers up a bit more deeply pitched nose of violet, plum and anise hints. The sleek, delicious and beguilingly vibrant medium weight...
93-95 JM / 91-94 VM 100% whole bunch. Beautiful mid to deep purple. This is really lovely, the pure raspberry essence with cream of Charmes has worked really well with the whole bunches. Exceptionally long and fine, no more...
96 JS / 96 VM / 95+ WA / 95 DE / 95 JA / 94+ JD / 94 WI / 93 WE / 17 JR Fascinating aromas of blueberries, crushed stone, and blackcurrants. Very aromatic. Full-bodied with juicy tannins that are creamy and intense...
94 JD / 94 JA / 93 VM / 93 JS / 92 WI / 91 DE Another killer wine in the vintage is the 2020 Château Côte De Baleau, which comes from a cooler, north-facing vineyard on the eastern side of the...
97 JD / 96 VM / 95 WI / 94 JS / 94 DE / 94 WS / 93+ WA The Grand Vin 2020 Château Beychevelle is a tiny selection representing just 55% of the total production of the estate. The blend is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45%...
97 JD / 95 WA / 94 VMAn off-the-hook Saint-Emilion, the inky colored 2016 Château Clos de Sarpe is mostly Merlot but includes 15% Cabernet Franc. A beautiful, floral character gives way to more blueberry, raspberry,...
94 JS / 93 DE / 93 WA / 92 VM / 92 WS Aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and cedar yet bright and fragrant. Full body yet tight and polished. It starts off and then slowly grows on the palate with wonderful dimension of...
97 JS / 96 WE / 93 WA This has a very alluring sheen of mineral aromas, across ripe peaches and papaya. The palate has such intensity with purity, bringing freshness and power to the finish. Wow-factor wine...
98 KO / 95+ VM / 95 WA / 95 JS / 17.5 JR Camphor, pressed rose, new leather and forest-berry aromas shape the enticing nose on this firmly structured, focused red. The vibrant youthfully austere palate shows intensity,...
91 WA / 91-93 VM / 91-93 JM The 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves is showing well from bottle, unfurling in the glass with aromas of strawberries, cherries and plums mingled with sweet soil tones and licorice. On the...
94 WA / 17 JR I loved the 2017 Lumière, a white Palomino from old vines in the La Platera vineyard in Pago Miraflores that somehow made me think of the white topped-up wines from Jean-François Ganevat in the...
98 JS / 96 WS / 95 WA / 95 VM Very intense blackberry and blueberry character with sliced-mushroom and tree-bark undertones. Porcini mushrooms really set the tone here. It’s full-bodied with powerful tannins that come...
97 JS / 96+ WA / 96 JD / 95 WS / 95 VM / 95 WE / 94 DE Really attractive blue fruit and flowers with hints of minerals. Full- bodied, very tight and sexy with super fine tannins, at the same time. A structured and racy...
96 JD / 96 RP / 96 WCI / 94 JS / 94 VM Unquestionably one of the gems in the vintage is the 2008 Pontet-Canet, which reminds me of the 2005 with its concentrated, deep, powerful style. Beautiful dark fruits, graphite,...
This Special Limited Edition Collection comes in custom hinged OWC and includes 1 bottle each of the following wines never before packaged together: Brane Cantenac 2019 - 97 WA / 97 VM / 96 DE / 96 JD / 95 JS / 95 JA...
97 WI / 96 JA / 96 JS / 95 VM / 95 WI / 95 DE / 94 WS / 94 JD / 93 WA The 2019 Saint-Pierre is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out with showy notes of blueberry pie, blackberry preserves, and blackcurrant...
99 WI / 99 JS / 98 VM / 98 DE / 98 WE / 97+ WA / 97 JA / 96 JD / 96 WS #15 Wine Independent Top 25 QPR Collector Wines 2022#18 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of France 2022#40 James...
99 WI / 99 JS / 98 JA / 98 DE / 98 WE / 96 VM / 18 JR #5 Wine Independent Top 10 QPR Collector Wines under $200 2023#6 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of France 2022#14 Wine Independent Top 25 QPR Collector...
92-94 VM / 90-93 JM / 17.5 JR The 2017 Volnay Fremiet 1er Cru has an expressive bouquet with veins of blue fruit that strafe the vibrant raspberry and crushed strawberry. Here there is fine mineralité tucked just...
95 JD / 94 JS / 94 WE / 93 WS / 93 WA The 2017 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch is another beautiful, classic Pinot Noir from this estate. From the Russian River and brought up in 42% new French oak (there's some Austrian oak as...
98 TA / 97 VM / 97 DE / 96 JS / 94 WA / 18.5 JR Best sweet wine of the year. Increasingly celebrated as one of the great sweet wines of the world, not just the Cape, Vin de Constance is a delight to taste and review...
100 VM / 100 AG / 100 WA / 100 JS / 100 JD / 99 DE / 98 WS #92 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2019 The 2016 Mouton Rothschild bowled me over when I tasted it from barrel. Philippe Dhalluin compares...
99 WI / 98+ WA / 98 WE / 97 DE / 97 VM / 97 JS / 96 JD / 95 WS The 2016 Canon is deep garnet-black in color. Wow - it rockets out of the glass with a powerful nose of blackberry preserves, chocolate-covered cherries, and...
94 JS / 93 WS / 92 WA / 18+ JR The Warre was beautiful now. It showed lots of dried fruits and Christmas cake character on the nose and palate. Medium sweet. It was full-bodied with loads of flavor and an intensely...
98 JS / 97 JA / 97 WE / 97 VM / 96 WS / 94 JD / 94 WA #95 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2018 So much violet and lilac aromas to this with blackberry and blueberry character, too. Full-bodied and delivering limestone,...
99+ RP / 99 VM / 97 JS / 96 DE Proprietor Denis Durantou has produced a blockbuster Pomerol from a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, tipping the scales at just over 14.5% natural alcohol. A riveting wine, pure,...
100 RP / 100 WCI / 98 DE / 97 VM One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple...
95 DE / 95 JS / 93 WA In a difficult vintage like 2013, reassuring hands are what you look for, those with an instinctive ability to tease out the best possible from the character of the year. Weather wise things were...
100 DE / 100 WA / 100 JS / 100 WE This vintage featured a cold winter and cool weather at flowering, followed by a dry summer with a hot July and warm days and cool nights in August and September. The season...
99+ WA / 98 WE / 97 WI / 97 VM Wine Enthusiast Best of Year 2010 Tasted twice at UGC tastings, it was actually under blind conditions that the Climens 2007 re-confirmed its status as the best Sauternes of the vintage. It...
93 JS Aromas of sweet berries and blueberries with hints of walnuts. Full body, with velvety tannins that are polished and refined. This seems to be slightly holding back its inherent qualities. Give it time. Best ever from...
Size: 1.6 ha (4 ac)Variety: Pinot NoirVine Age: Planted in 1970Terroir: On the plateau above Nuits St Georges and Vosne Romanée, shallow clay and limestone soil.Viticulture: SustainableVinification: Cold macerated...
90 WA / 88-90 JM Aromas of pear, citrus oil, warm bread, pastry cream and peach introduce the 2020 Savigny-lès-Beaune Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, ample and enveloping wine that's bright and fleshy, with a satiny...
96 WA / 96 JS / 96 WE / 94 JD / 93 VM / 17 JR Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault is scented of cranberries, blackberries, forest floor and conifer, lemon peel and Angostura bitters. The light-bodied...
95-97 VM / 95 WA / 95 WS / 94 JD Brilliant violet color. Displays pungent, mineral- and spiceaccented cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and licorice aromas, along with hints of savory herbs, vanilla and incense. Chewy and...
97 WA / 95-97 VM / 95 WS / 93+ JD The string of successes continues with the stunning 2021 Gigondas le Poste, which features layers of spicy complexity—pepper, licorice, allspice—melded into deep plum and black...
93 BH Tasting note: A cooler and more reserved nose features notes of elegant and admirably pure white flowers, green apple and a touch of rosemary oil. There is first-rate density to the powerful and muscular flavors that...
98 JA / 98 JS / 96 WS / 96 WE / 95 WA / 95 JD #2 Jane Anson Top 10 Right Bank Wines of 2023 Impossible to resist the 2009 Figeac, with its tight cassis fruits that widen and soften to creamy damson halfway...
95 WI / 95 JD / 95 DE A new project from Jayson Woodbridge of Hundred Acre The 2021 Stargazing Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. The nose opens with evocative notes of cranberry sauce, redcurrant jelly, and...
92 WS #92 Wine Spectator Top 100 2023 This shows Chenin's ability to balance ripeness and concentration with structure and polish, with honeyed lemon, glazed mango, warm hay and barley flavors all buoyed by citrusy acidity...
98 VM / 98 JD / 96 WS #6 Wine Spectator Top 100 2023 The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is outrageously beautiful. A wine of extraordinary purity, the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate. The tannins are nearly...
98 JS / 94 VM Raspberries and flowers and hints of citrus on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with a tight and focused palate of fruit, with tight and firm tannins. Reserved and powerful. Great bottle. Try after 2029.-James...
96 WE / 17 JR#79 Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2023This is a Pinot Gris made with intention. The amber-hued Alium, with 40 days of maceration, dazzles the eye while aromas of dried apricots, peach skins and...
93-95 VM / 91-93 JD / 92 WA / 91 JS One of the most consistently highly rated producers in all of France, the 2021 vintage marks the tenth consecutive with scores of 95 point or higher for at least one of their Gigondas...
99 DE / 98 JS / 96 WI / 95 WA / 95 WS / 95 JD#68 James Suckling's Top 100 American Wines of 2023With a good decant, the compact, quiet bouquet of this 2020 Dominus begins to show off, exhibiting perfumed aromatics of...
100 JD / 98 WCI / 96 VM / 95 DE / 17.5+ JR My wine of the vintage is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve, which is in the same league as the other greats from this estate including the 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010, and...
95-98 JM / 95-97 VM 50% whole bunch, average age 40 years, old vines needed picking first. 25% new wood, 13.2% alcohol. Almost black with purple rim. The fruit comes across as more noble than the already delicious Bonnes...
91-93 WA / 90-93 JM / 90-92 BH The 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean opens in the glass with notions of peach, white flowers, citrus oil and clear honey. Medium to full-bodied, taut and racy, with a satiny...
98 WA The ultra elegant, sleek and mineral 2021 Moncerbal has amazing freshness, ultra refined tannins and lots of complexity, with layers and layers of flavors and aromas and great depth. There is a sense of harmony here...
30 years of complexity from the benchmark for collectible Chenin. Excellent vintage, ready to drink.
20% Cabernet Franc and 80% Muscat à petits grains. The aromas of lychee and mango from Muscat supported by a soft tannic structure go very well with the violet and grapefruit of Cabernet Franc. The south meets the...
91 DE / 90 VM Named after the road that flanks the estate, Sp68 is an entry-level blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato. It offers a taste of the estate’s signature style at an affordable price, displaying inviting...
96 VM / 95 JS / 95 DE / 95 WE / 93 WA / 93 WS The 2010 Suduiraut, picked from 22 September until 9 November in five tries through the vineyard, has a drop-dead gorgeous bouquet that is delineated and detailed. There are...
90-93 BH / 90-93 WA Tasting note: A fresh and reserved nose that is airy, cool and admirably pure while displaying plenty of floral notes on the restrained red and dark berry fruit scents. The mineral-infused, tight...
98 WI / 98 WE / 97 JS / 96 VM / 96 WS / 95+ WA / 95 DE The 2015 Cristal is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. No malo-lactic was employed, and 25% wine was aged in oak. The dosage is 7 grams per liter. An...
91-94 JM Dense purple black, plenty of energy here but not much detail yet. Very powerful but also very poised and the finish is clean and well extended, ripe dark fruit, perfect acid balance, middleweight plus. Impeccable...
97+ WI / 97 VM / 97 DB / 96 DE The 2020 Château d'Yquem a blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. It has 135 grams per liter of residual sugar and a pH of 3.79. Pale lemon-gold colored, citrus and baking...
93 VM The 2020 Zinfandel Turley Estate is one of the richer wines in this vintage. Yields were down a punishing 50%. Succulent red cherry fruit, spice, tobacco, cedar, dried flowers, leather and licorice are front and...
94 VM / 93 WS / 91 RP The 2015 Extra-Brut Rosé Grand Vintage is one of the best Champagnes I have tasted from Moët & Chandon in some time. Rich and vinous in the glass, with terrific persistence, the 2015 exudes class...