95-100 Point Wines

The least expensive wine from Abreu is a 400-case cuvée called Rothwell Hyde, which comes from different vineyards. The 2012, which is in bottle, offers loads of cedar wood, black chocolate and coffee as well as hints of... Read More

The story of this wine is much more a whoops, than it is an ahah! Lorraine and I had been building a home for our family that started soon after our engagement to each other and went on for 17 years... It was a massive and astonishingly... 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

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

With vineyards throughout Montalcino, Altesino started harvest at the beginning of September with its southernmost holdings. After rain mid-month, the estate continued with plots in the north. The resulting wine is light yet bright... Read More

This celebrated single-vineyard wine follows through with many of the attractive themes presented in the base Brunello, only you get more robust intensity and power here. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is slightly more... Read More

A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures... Read More

Lovely sweet cherries and heather with some leather and balsamic undertones. It’s full-bodied with a velvety and lightly dusty palate. Juicy fruit and pretty orange peel to the berry character. Hints of cedar and meat at... 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.

While Altesino’s Montosoli bottling is a closeup of a single cru, this Riserva is a panoramic shot of Montalcino. It draws on a selection of bunches from the estate’s vineyards spread throughout the region. It's... Read More

Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with... Read More

This elegant wine is brilliant ruby to the eye, with aromas of ripe red and black fruits, especially red currant and cassis. It has secondary aromas of tobacco, cedar and pencil shavings in the complex bouquet. The tannins are... Read More

What a charming nose, with scented blueberries, crushed violets, red berries, wild herbs and a hint of dark olive. Juicy and pristinely dry and honest on the medium-to full-bodied palate, rounded by ultra-fine tannins, which are... Read More

Crafted in the Pomerol style, Amuse Bouche 2018 is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards in the east Rutherford hills of Napa Valley. We picked our fruit in three stages on 9/17, 9/29 and 10/18. The 2018... Read More

The 2012s are the most showy and forward of the three vintages, which is not surprising, since the vintage is flamboyant and they are already three years of age. Even as impressive, but showing more truffles, charcoal, graphite... Read More

The 2019 EABA shows the cooler, elegant style of the vintage yet still has classic Jim Binns texture and opulence. Black cherries, kirsch liqueur, roasted herbs, sandalwood, and hints of white pepper define the bouquet, and it’s... Read More

Lastly, the Syrah-dominated 2021 No 10 reveals a dense purple hue as well as a wild bouquet of blueberries, wild strawberries, ground pepper, game, iron, and assorted floral, meaty nuances. Stunningly complex even at this young... Read More

The vineyards of Badia a Passignano surround an ancient monastery which has belonged to Benedictine monks since the 11th century. It’s just 3km south of Antinori’s Tignanello estate, from which the Sangiovese cuttings... Read More

Guado al Tasso 2020 is an intense ruby red in color. The nose offers notes of small dark fruit with sweet spice and toasted oak. On the palate, pure flavors and refined tannins lead to a persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed... Read More

Produced since 1978, Solaia comes from a 20-hectare vineyard with a southwestern exposure at around 350-400 metres above sea level. The soil is the typical 'alberese' limestone and 'galestro' schist. The 2018 vintage... Read More

Producer tasting notes: Solaia 2020 is rubyred in color. Exceptional intensityand complexity on the nose: notes of wild berries, especially blueberries, raspberriesand currants that intermingle with sweet hints of plums, black... Read More

Deep dark ruby in color, the wine presents fresh under ripe rhubarb, black cherry, cassis, fresh mint and black peppercorn to the nose. The palate is concentrated and focused, with blackberries and tart fruit cradled by the minerality... Read More

WINEMAKER NOTES

All of our fruit is hand harvested and brought into the winery within hours of being picked. Everything is methodically and obsessively sorted. A cold soak of 4-7 days with minimal air incorporation starts the... Read More

Delightful aromas of juicy red cherries, strawberries, rose petals and wild bush, together with hints of juniper and ground herbs. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and crisp acidity. Zesty and piquant with beautiful balance and... 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

From a site north of Lake Hennessey, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Sage Ridge Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has more red and black fruits as well as a kiss of bloody, iron-like nuances in its tapenade, violets, and incense-driven... 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

Ferrington Vineyard rests on a gently sloping bench overlooking the town of Boonville in the heart of Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. One of the earliest sites to be planted in this historic appellation, Ferrington... 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

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is imbued with incredible richness and density, marked by flavors of grilled peach and yellow and white orchard fruits. Ritchie Vineyard is planted exclusively with Old Wente... 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

Tasting Notes

Lucky Well Vineyard is perched at the very top of Stoetz Ridge, the land mass that divides the true Sonoma Coast from the Russian River Valley. As such, the wine made from this site always expresses qualities from... Read More

Bright ruby-red. Exotic crushed raspberry, blackberry and espresso on the nose, with hints of graphite and roast coffee. Chewy, lush and densely packed, with juicy flavors of black raspberry and espresso. Finishes with dusty,... Read More

The debut release from proprietor Carl Lindner, this 2001 is produced from 150-year old Shiraz vines, and aged in 100% new American oak. This sensational effort boasts a saturated inky/purple color in addition to aromas of roasted... Read More

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale, ruby red with light tints of garnet
Scent: Ethereal, spicy, with scents of red fruit
Taste and Body: Dry, medium-to-full bodied, reasonably tannic, balanced and persistent

Serving Suggestions: A wine... Read More

Tasting Notes

Pale yellow with greenish tints. Intense, rich, moderately fruity, complex scent. Medium-bodied, dry, mineral, with a pleasant high acidity, saline notes, marked aromatic persistence, and aftertaste of anise and... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard is exceptionally layered and elegant this vintage, with detailed raspberries and rose petal perfume and wafts of licorice peel and tangerine. The palate is grainy and bright, already... Read More

#32 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023

Barrel fermented and put through complete malolactic fermentation, Sigrid is full and rich. The supple mouthfeel brings on lively flavors of clover, apple, fresh green herbs and a lick of butter. Elegant and detailed from start... Read More

Dark, bright-brimmed red. Spice- and earth-tinged red and blue fruit scents show a suave floral overtone. Youthfully taut bitter cherry, blueberry and spicecake flavors flesh out and take a sweeter turn through the back half.... Read More

White gold with a youthful green hue. Lovely stuff here with a great, reductive, mineral note of fresh struck flint, hazelnuts, spiced pastry cream, grilled citrus, toasted brioche, but primarily lives up to its name with a great,... Read More

The Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Red is back for 2018 and it is a true anomaly. In the Bevan portfolio, this wine is always the last to come around and show its stuff. Once this wine was put in tank it was off to the races.... Read More

Tasting notes-
This wine unfolds its tale with an aromatic prelude of dried roses, coriander and muddled raspberry. Venture deeper into the glass and the story darkens, revealing a core of a forest at dusk. Candied bacon, anise... Read More

The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino exudes dark, velvety fruit and concentration while maintaining the signature elegance, suppleness and lithe personalty that distinguishes the iconic Il Greppo estate. I found this new... Read More

Tasting Notes

The 2017 Brunello is a wine of light and energy. On the nose crispy notes of sour cherries, blood oranges and small red berry fruits are accompanied by scents of Mediterranean balsamic herbs and a touch of flint.... Read More

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a truly majestic wine. The bouquet is packed with intense fruity notes of black berries, pomegranate and plums, intertwined with scents of Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary... Read More

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a truly majestic wine. The bouquet is packed with intense fruity notes of black berries, pomegranate, and plums, intertwined with scents of Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary,... Read More

Tasting Notes

A bright ruby red color, this elegant Rosso di Montalcino opens with a veritable explosion of sweet fruity aromas, going from small berry fruits such as raspberries and red currant, to cherries, plums and pomegranate,... Read More

Fresh and floral nose with tiles, vibrant red berries and pomegranate. Stony, mineral verve. Pure and expressive with good tension on the medium-bodied palate. Silky, very nimble and elegant. Acidic red berries in the finish that... Read More

Floral and buoyant nose with fresh red berries, roses and mineral. Really bright and energetic on the palate with beautiful tension and juiciness. Subtle, sappy and layered. The mineral spike extends to a simply delicious finish.... Read More

Sly in the early innings and then menthol, forest, spice, charcoal and earthy black-fruit aromas emerge to rally this bruiser into its prime, which entails monster fruit flavors, rugged tannins, and a stout, peppery finish. The... Read More

The outstanding 2005 Termanthia has a much more reticent nose than the 2004, which is a difficult act to follow, but in many ways it is just as attractive, perhaps with better delineation and more elegance, scents of incense,... Read More

Fresh and intense fruity aromas well integrated with a flower touch, gentle spices & lively eucalyptus leaves touch. The aromatic experience continues, the mouthfeel is silky and vibrant. After lively and intense attack, an explosion... Read More

So much dried flower mushroom iron rust sweet berry and grilled orange. Full-bodied with very elegant and refined tannins that melt in the mouth and give a real sense of place and integrity. Balanced and harmonious. The finesse... Read More

Reserved and polished, this is a Prado Enea with great class and focus. It’s so aromatic,with plum, peach, cherry and cedar character. Salted olives, too. Medium-to full-bodied with very fine tannins and a long, fresh finish.... Read More

This is a structured and linear Muga Reserva with a creamy and fine-tannined backbone and graphite, cherry, plum and black-truffle character. Medium-bodied, racy and beautiful. 70% tempranillo, 20% grenache and 10% mazuelo and... Read More

Fresh and demure nose with lots of cocoa powder, blackcurrants, blackberries and a hint of cigar and charcoal. Excellent depth and class here with a very juicy center palate. Medium to full body with a long and layered finish.... Read More

A perfumed, fresh nose filled with violets, lavender, black currants. The palate is plush, dense and precise, finishing with a purity and deftness that is increasingly hard to find in Napa. Impressively ready to drink even at... Read More

Deep garnet in color, the 2009 Bettina has a seriously savory nose of tapenade, Black Forest cake, sandalwood, dried Provence herbs and smoked meats with a background of prunes, baked blackcurrants and kirsch plus wafts of forest... Read More

Expressive and lush nose of creamy berries, dark cherries, vanilla, cassis and sweet oak spices. Full body with fine, creamy tannins. Rich and full of generous creamy berries and an equally demonstrative and dense finish with... Read More

Varietal Composition: 60% Corvina, 15% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella, 10% Oseleta, 5% Croatina

Tasting Notes

Intense ruby-red in color with garnet shades. Intense and elegant cherry, ripe fruit and spices aroma, with scents of vanilla,... Read More

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a fascinating wine. Some of the rougher, wilder edges that are present in the 2008 are smoothed out here. Layers of expressive dark fruit, licorice, mint and new leather wrap around... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is even better, with a stunning nose of black and blue fruits as well as iron, black olive tapenade, and subtle herbal nuances. Pure 2019 goodness on the palate, it's full-bodied, has ripe,... Read More

Varieties: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot

A thrilling Pinot Noir that comes from a 13.8-acre vineyard planted in 1975 on mostly on limestone, at an elevation of 2,200 feet, the 2012 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard was harvested September 24 to October 21 and was aged 16 months... Read More

Carpineto is a dynamic estate with property in Chianti Classico and Montepulciano in addition to Montalcino, where the fruit is grown on a dry-farmed outcropping at over 500 meters in elevation, sloping gently northward. It is... Read More

Casanova di Neri is one of the shining stars of Montalcino. Each successive vintage released brings us renewed understanding of the focus and the dedication demonstrated by the father and son team that operates this estate. The... Read More

The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino delivers unexpected grace and a floral profile that is not common to find in this scorching-hot and dry vintage. In faithful Casanova di Neri fashion, the wine is bold and dark... Read More

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 solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017... Read More

TASTING NOTE

A deep, intense ruby with tinges of garnet, it offers a fine, complex nose, in which the fruit combines with a sweet spiciness deriving from its long aging. On the palate it is austere, with ripe, velvety tannins... Read More

This is really juicy and delicious with ripe cherries and berries, as well as some bark and dried orange. Medium to full body with round, refined tannins and a flavorful finish. Transparent and linear. Lively at the end. Excellent... Read More

Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023 - #11

Deep ruby in color with garnet lights that hint at the wine's extended barrel aging, Castello di Bossi Gran Selezione is explosive in its intensity and yet the wine manages an astounding... Read More

A blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Balifico is yet another protagonist of a vintage that has been extremely kind to Tuscany's blended red wines. That lasting summer heat and sunshine has shaped... Read More

Varietal Composition: 65% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes

The Balifico has a vivid ruby color with a dark purple tinge. The nose is elegant, displaying aromas of blackberry and blueberry with hints of oak and... Read More

A polished red with plum, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with soft, integrated tannins and a pretty finish. Another year or two will give it a little more finesse. From organically grown grapes. Try after... Read More

The Balifico has a vivid ruby color with a dark purple tinge. The nose is elegant, displaying aromas of blackberry and blueberry with hints of oak and cinnamon. This is a smooth wine with good structure and a long finish tasting... Read More

Leading off the 2013s, the 332-case 2013 Camaspelo is made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was aged all in puncheons. Notes of iron, red and black currants, licorice and lead pencil characteristics emerge from... Read More

The 2014 Camaspelo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (there's a splash of Tempranillo). It offers lots of red and chocolate-covered black currants, black cherry, black olive, tobacco and leafy herbs. It shows more... Read More

Displaying a deep ruby core and magenta rim, the 2018 Syrah en Cerise bursts with elements of smoked meats, black pepper, umami, dried tobacco and smoked pipe before elements of black raspberry, dusty cherry and spiced plum compote... Read More

The 2021 Syrah en Cerise displays a medium ruby hue with a soft garnet edge. It features sappy black cherry and sour plum notes complemented by spicy herbs and hung meat, offering an earthy, robust character. On the medium-bodied... Read More

Made by Christophe as a tribute to Cote Rotie and coming from a blend of estate vineyards, the 2012 Syrah Wallah Wallah #4 Special spent 22 months in older puncheons and neutral smaller barrels before being bottled only in Magnum,... Read More

The ostentatious, staggering 1997 Barolo Bricco Rocche possesses a dark garnet color with amber at the edge. The explosive bouquet of coffee liqueur, licorice, spice box, black cherries, kirsch, raspberries, and cedar is to die... Read More

Reminiscent of a right bank Pomerol from the late forties, the dark garnet/amber-edged 1997 Barolo Prapo possesses aromas and flavors of singed leather, espresso, melted caramel, black cherries, smoke, and Christmas fruitcake.... Read More

A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 MMXVI Cabernet Sauvignon gives up gregarious notions of warm red and black currants, black raspberries and warm plums... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon MMXIII is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Malbec (9%) and Cabernet Franc (5%). Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants, wild blueberries... Read More

This wine has always been soft and delicious, with an almost decadent character of strawberry tart, earth, meat and spices. It’s full and very soft, with refined tannins and a very long finish.

Plums, passion fruit, spring flowers and hints of violet all emerge from the silky, beautifully polished 2014 Pinot Noir Los Alamos Vineyard, which comes from very sandy soils located just outside of Los Alamos. It spent 12 months... Read More

This is really superb with a chalk, dark berry, raspberry and citrus character. Full body, firm tannins and all in fruit. Wow. Second wine of Ausone. Better in 2018.

Embodying the essence of great mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and the majestic terroir or Pritchard Hill, this wine is gloriously opulent and elegant, immediately demanding attention with aromas of violet, black currant, cassis,... Read More

Some frost impact (seen in the 70% Merlot and lower Cabernet Franc than usual), but clearly not getting in the way of success, this Angélus has flesh, texture, depth of colour and plenty of succulent autumnal fruit. Without... Read More

A deep and rich nose, but so pure, clear and clean, it smells beautiful. The aromas really shine in the glass, too, with a texture that is smooth and supple, giving and generous. A powerful wine with excellent persistence from... Read More

The 1989 is inkier/purple in color than the 1990, with an extraordinarily sweet, rich personality offering up notes of smoke, melted licorice, black cherries, Asian spices, and cassis. Full-bodied and concentrated, it is one of... Read More

Made up of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the opaque bluish/purple 2005 from Bellevue-Mondotte offers amazing chocolate espresso notes along with blueberry and blackberry liqueur, some incense and a hint of flowers. Full-bodied... Read More

Loads of fruit with blueberries and blackberries. Cassis. Full and juicy with super fine tannins. Very flamboyant. Powerful structure. Goes on for minutes. 90% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Aged for around 18 months in barrel, 60% new and 40% second fill, the 2018 Beychevelle needs a fair bit of swirling to release classic notes of cassis, plum preserves and ripe blackberries, with emerging suggestions of unsmoked... Read More

The estate, at the southern end of Saint-Julien, has produced a wine that is both structured and stylish. This bold, ripe wine shows opulent black fruits and generous tannins. Juicy and structured, it has good aging potential.... Read More