90-93 Point Wines:

Along with the 2014, I also tasted the 2015 Salmos, which is from an earlier and riper year. It's a similar blend of Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah from the same vineyards and produced in a similar way, with fermentation... Read More

A wine discovery from the same area where Ornellaia comes from in Maremma, Italy. The 2015 Prile is a blend of organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. The 2015 is also one of the finer wines I have tasted... Read More

The 2018 Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon is opaque purple in color, presenting notes of wild blackberries, luxardo cherries, plums, crème de cassis with hints of fresh spring flowers. This full bodied expression displays... Read More

An offering from Odette, Adaptation's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features a nice mix of red and black fruits—cherries and cassis—plus hints of vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied but easy to drink and... Read More

The 2016 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte is a terrific wine, easily the rival to many Châteauneufs from across the river, starting with its alluring aromas of flowering garrigue and ripe cherries. A blend of 50% Grenache,... Read More

Aldo Conterno’s Barolo Bussia is produced from five hectares of prime vineyards in Bussia Soprano, the original section of what has become a rather large vineyard in recent years. These five hectares are spread across three... Read More

Macerated black cherries bathed in a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, thyme and pepper waft out of the glass, inviting you to delve deeper. The silky-smooth palate is full of plums and cherries, cocoa powder and freshly ground coffee.... Read More

The 2021 Les Romains is Mellot's Sancerre off a vineyard on the flinty side of the fault that cuts the appellation in two. In conjunction with the cooler 2021 vintage, the result is a firm, forceful expression, yet there's... Read More

Fermentation of Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon occurs in both open and closed top fermenters. Certain lots are allowed to macerate on their skins for up to three weeks following fermentation. This technique produces a wine with softer,... Read More

This wine opens to a thin and streamlined appearance. The 2014 Brunello di Montalcino mirrors the main characteristics of the vintage with a clean mouthfeel and bright berry aromas. The Brunellos from 2014 are better suited to... Read More

Brilliant ruby-red color, this classic Rosso offers sumptuous aromas of ripened blackberries and dark cherries. On the palate, the wine is generously well-rounded and rich with fruit-forward notes complimented by hints of leather... Read More

The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is an especially graceful wine with tart fruit, clean mineral lines and a mid-weight approach. Like other wines from this vintage, the 2018s are more accessible than, say, the 2016s or... Read More

Ruby red, tending to garnet red with ageing. Hints of humus and a broad, ethereal and compound aroma. Strong character and structure of great thickness.

Pair with red and roast meat, along with noble game.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Animo is deep garnet-purple colored and opens with a waft of cedar chest, giving way to notes of baked blackberries, crème de cassis, espresso and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it has taut,... Read More

Great impact on the nose, black berry fruit, spices, well integrated wood, chocolate and coffee. Soft and round palate with an excellent acid boost. Firm but soft tannins. Powerful and explosive it embodies all the energy of the... Read More

A showy version, with hibiscus and anise notes glistening atop a range of cassis, cherry and boysenberry puree flavors. The licorice-accented finish is long and focused. Drink now through 2036. 100 cases made.

A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Quartet offers up expressive scents of stewed plums, warm cassis, boysenberries and blackberry... Read More

Tasting Notes

A wine that presents great richness and silkiness, yet still possesses structure. Notes of white peach, toast, sweet cream, and white pepper greet the nose, while flavors of orchard fruit, quince and Asian pear (and... Read More

Tasting Notes

The 2017 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a blend of our four Russian River Valley Chardonnay vineyards: El Diablo Vineyard on Eastside Road,... Read More

TASTING NOTES

An exceptional snapshot of the 2020 vintage in the Russian River, this release is a blend of barrels from five Russian River Valley sites: Flora Marie, El Diablo, Ritchie, Banfield, and Arista’s Westside Road... Read More

TASTING NOTES

The 2019 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is easily the most graceful edition of this wine we have ever made. With its south-facing aspect in the center of the Russian River Valley appellation, Ritchie Vineyard is known... Read More

Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a smoky, savory nose: woodsmoke, pipe tobacco, smoked meat and turned earth over a core of ripe red and black cherries and berries. Light to medium-bodied... Read More

The 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir leads with a bouquet of lavender, crushed cherries, and notes of fresh blue and red fruit. Aged in a modest 20% oak. Only the faintest suggestion of toasted oak and graphite frames the... Read More

Tasting Notes

The Russian River Valley Pinot Noir bottling is a wonderful introduction to the Arista portfolio for 2019. The wine really captures the essence of the vintage. Blue and red fruits predominate on the nose, but the... Read More

Tasting Notes

Green apple, lemon oil, and white peach notes emerge on the nose and form the core of the 2020 edition of the El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay. Lemon-lime flavors are enhanced by notes of white pepper and a beam of... Read More