Wine Store

JRM - A convenient single-serve bottle of one of the great value wines of the world.

Wine Spectator 86 - Star fruit, white peach and verbena notes mingle in this fresh, easygoing white.

JRM - A convenient single-serve bottle of one of the great value wines of the world. Delicious.

Maker's Notes - Pretty deep red colour. The fresh nose is on ripe red fruit with hints of cherries. Well balanced with soft tannins, it is a full and fresh wine with a nice length.

Jeremy's Notes: One of the best wine values on earth. Always well made, approachable, fruity and well balanced. A pleasure wine for drinking any time with any food. Authentic, genuine and tasty.

Maker's Notes -

Appearance: garnet red colour

Nose: complex and fine with notes of black fruit (blackberry / blackcurrant)

Palate: fruity with lovely notes of liquorice. Silky tannins. Creating a precise and elegant wine with lovely freshness

Jeremy's Notes - Refreshing white featuring a fresh kiwi core, with Key lime and white peach notes mixed in. Shows a stony hint that gives the finish spine.  Good value.

CRU/JRM - There is no better value in white wine.  This is a satisfying, palate-coating and extremely pleasant white that pairs very well with almost everything. 

Maker's Notes - Pretty pale-yellow dress. This wine reveals an elegant nose with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. This lively wine is very fresh and has a touch of minerality on the palate.

Maker's Notes - Pretty delicate petal-rose colour. This wine offers an expressive, particularly fruity nose with notes of red fruit and citrus. On the palate, this wine shows a beautiful aromatic richness and a perfect balance between the body and the freshness.

Maker's Notes -

Appearance: Deep, dark garnet, nearly black.

Nose: Intense and fiery with ripe fruit notes (blackcurrants/ raspberries).

Palate: Full and powerful. The ripe fruit notes are found again on the palate along with sweet spices. Pronounced silky, delicate tannins.

Maker's Notes - The colour is a deep ruby red. The nose reveals powerful aromas of wild berries and spicies, truly typical from the "Syrah" grape. On the palate, strong flavours of blackcurrant and red berries surround a smooth fruit on the back of the wine. The finish has lots of personality.

Maker's Notes - Its colour is a deep ruby red, showing garnet reflections while young. With its predominately berry-fruit bouquet, this wine shows the full aromatic power of these two noble grape varieties whilst retaining the freshness imparted by well-controlled wine making.

CRU/JRM - One of our best-selling wines for many years and with good reason.  Terrific value and always consistently well made.

Maker's Notes -

Appearance: bright, deep, dark garnet.

Nose: intense with notes of ripe fruit (blackcurrants/raspberries).

Palate:  delicious and full. The ripe fruit and soft spices come through again on the palate. Pronounced yet soft, delicate tannins.

JRM - Delicious and attractive.  Smooth palate, lovely fruitiness and good balance.  A crowd pleaser any day.

Maker's Notes - Beautiful limpid colour with yellow and green undertones. The nose reveals a seductive fruity bouquet with notes of lemon, citrus and white flowers. Fresh on the palate, with great tension, this is a fine, elegant and well-balanced wine, offering nice acidity and a touch of bitterness on gourmet aromas of peach syrup. It will be ideal as an aperitif or to accompany a starter.

Maker's Notes - Pretty pale pink color with pastel undertones. The nose is seductive with subtle hints of red fruit (currants, strawberries, raspberries) and delicate flowers (rose, hawthorn). Well balanced in the mouth, between freshness and roundness, it offers a refreshing lemony finish.

Maker's Notes - Appearance: bright, dark garnet. Nose: powerful red berry aromas (cherry, raspberry) accompanied by cocoa and sweet spice fragrances.

Nose: powerful red berry aromas (cherry, raspberry) accompanied by cocoa and sweet spice fragrances.

Palate: delicious and juicy on entry, a profusion of red fruit, full on the palate with silky, velvety tannin. The perfect example of a Grenache noir

Maker's Notes - An intense, bright colour, with a golden hue. To the nose the specific aromas of the grape variety are to the fore, with apricots, peaches, exotic fruits and preserved citrus fruit. The palate is both smooth and fresh, finishing on dried fruits hint.

Wine Spectator 88 - This juicy red has light tannins and bright acidity, offering bright red and black fruit flavors, with hints of smoke and licorice. Drink now through 2025.

Maker's Notes - Intense ruby ​​red color, medium-high layer and light orange iridescence.  Aromas of red fruits, fresh fruit (strawberry), of good intensity, well assembled with the aromas of spices, vanilla and wood.  In the mouth we find it slightly tannic, fresh, medium-bodied, smooth, balanced, with fruit well integrated with notes of oak, vanilla and light toasted notes.

Wine Spectator 90 - A fun, open-knit red, offering lively kirsch, anise and blackberry cobbler notes, followed by a light dusting of lavender on the finish. Grenache and Syrah.

Maker's Notes - The colour shows an elegant, ruby-red hue. The aromas are delicate, dominated by red berries, such as wild strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth this wine is supple and seductive on the palate, light, easy to drink, with a deliciously fruity and fresh finish

JRM - The 2020 Beaujolais-Villages displays pretty aromas of cherries and dried flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and juicy palate, concluding with a pure and precise finish.  Delicious and easy-going.

Maker's Notes -

Appearance: Pale, bright hue with slightly bluish tints.

Nose: Powerful aromas of crushed strawberries and citrus complemented by floral notes.

Palate: Extremely fine on the palate, releasing fruity and floral notes of violets, complemented by a nice acidity which prolongs the enjoyment.

CRU/JRM - Fresh and inviting, with more fruit and depth than many of its peers. Offers a plum and cherry puree profile, laced with floral and red tea accents on the finish.

CRU/JRM - This rosé offers up an overt savory herb streak backed by a mix of white cherry and peach flavors. Plump, juicy finish. Drink now.

Wine Spectator 89 - Plump and fresh, with inner brightness as the star fruit, green melon and white peach flavors mingle gently. Ends with a kiss of verbena on the finish. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Viognier.

Wine Advocate 88 - The flamingo-hued 2019 Mathilda Chapoutier Grenache Rose features scents of crushed stone and alpine strawberries. It manages to avoid being confected while being fresh and fruity—not always an easy thing in Grenache-based rosés. Medium-bodied, it finishes with a slightly silky-textural flourish.

Vinous 88 - Light, bright orange. Smoke-tinged redcurrant, strawberry and orange zest on the nose and palate. Supple and dry, with a gripping finish that features a subtle herbal nuance.

CRU/JRM - Seriously good Cotes du Rhone.  Stays interesting glass after glass.  Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Clairette. Drink now.

Vinous 89 - Shimmering orange. Ripe red berry, orange pith and floral aromas

are complemented by a subtle nectarine flourish.  Smooth and open-knit, offering plump strawberry and tangerine flavors that take on a spicy quality with air. Shows good energy on the finish, which lingers with good, floral-tinged persistence.

Wine Spectator 87 - Fresh, with a light watermelon rind edge that adds freshness and direction to the light-bodied mix of white cherry and white peach flavors. Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault.

Jeremy’s Notes: A refreshing, tasty white with good balance and intensity. Interesting flavours of pear, grapefruit and peach. Quite a unique item. Great aperitif and accompaniment to fish, shrimp and chicken dishes.

Vinous 90 - Lurid onion skin color. Ripe pit fruit and red berry aromas and flavors take on a spicy nuance with air. Fleshy and seamless in texture, showing a mineral, saline quality on its long, penetrating finish, which echoes the floral note. This savory wine has a wide range of food-matching capabilities.

Maker's Notes - This wine is clear, shiny, tuby red with cherry highlights. The varietal aromas of the Merlot express themselves with notes of red currants and black cherries. The attack is frank, the morello cherry and the vanilla accompany a final licorice and ample. With tannins that are both soft and omni-present, its potential for ageing is 10 to 12 years.

CRU/JRM - Consistently fine Cotes du Rhone from one of the world's greatest wine makers.  Versatile, tasty and very well made. Serve this with anything.

Wine Spectator 89 - Dark and brambly, this lively red underscores flavors of crushed blackberry and blueberry fruit with notes of toast, pine and smoke. Medium-bodied, with light tannins and hints of licorice and mocha emerging on the finish. Drink now.

CRU/JRM - A wine this good at this price point is remarkable.  Delicious and very moreish.  A perennial favourite for good reason.

Wine Spectator 88 - Strawberry jam, cherry and earth flavors are the themes in this focused red. Smooth and balanced, with a light band of tannins on the finish. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jeremy's Notes - This is very attractive.  Plush mouthfeel, smooth and balanced with an elegance that belies the price-point. Medium-bodied with a nice balance of fruit and tannins, making it a good match for a wide selection of foods.  Michele Chapoutier doesn't muck around and his expertise in vineyard and cellar management shows very well in this recent Portuguese venture.

Maker's Notes - Appearance: elegant, pale yellow flecked with green.

Nose: fresh, fruity aromas of peaches and pears with citrus notes.

Palate: clean and fresh on entry, with perceptible volume on the mid-palate. The finish is broad and taut with citrus aromas.

Maker's Notes -

Colour: light yellow with golden tints.

Nose: both fruity and floral. Citrus, Mirabelle-plum and orange blossom notes.

Palate: taut, mineral structure, lovely roundness. A fresh, nearly saline, wine. Very long finish.

Maker's Notes - Seductive pale pastel-pink colour with shiny reflections. With great finesse, the nose opens up with a subtle aromatic bouquet with notes of white spring flowers such as acacia and lily of the valley. Delicate and elegant, the palate reveals great freshness which continues with a beautiful length.

Jeremy's Notes - Perrin's Reserve Rouge is a reference wine for Cotes du Rhone.  Well balanced, nuanced, elegant and delicious.  They always get this right and the 2020 is no exception.  Terrific value, punching well above its price point.

CRU/JRM - Slightly sweet, fragrant and smooth. A unique wine favoured by those who appreciate a little sweetness.  Generates lots of Oohs and Aahs.

Vinous 91 - Glistening orange-pink. Incisive red berry and citrus fruit scents are complemented by building floral and mineral nuances. Silky, dry and precise, showing good heft to the strawberry and blood orange flavors, which are braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Smoothly blends depth and energy and finishes very long and focused, with lingering florality and a suggestion of chalky minerals.

Wine Spectator 88 - This lively rosé has a glossy texture sporting cherry, tea and blood orange notes that are fresh and inviting. Accents of herb and stony mineral fine-tune the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Rolle.

CRU/JRM - An Aussie shiraz with a French accent.  Dark ruby and full of black fruits and pepper aromas.  Silky smooth and elegant.

CRU/JRM - Superbly made, elegant, long, balanced and delicious. Top shelf CDR. Super value.  Grenache and Syrah.

Maker's Notes - Beautiful garnet-red robe. The nose offers a superb aromatic bouquet with notes of red and black fruit such as cherries and blackcurrants mixed with floral notes, spices and "garrigue". With elegance, the mouth develops into fine and silky tannins with aromas of small red fruit and a beautiful aromatic and racy finish with subtle notes of tobacco.

Maker's Notes - This wine has a very expressive nose with notes of violets and fresh strawberries. Supple, rich and complex on the palate, it reveals beautiful aromas of pepper, black fruit and thyme before a long, silky and elegant finish.

Maker's Notes - Pretty pink-gold colour with shiny reflections. On the nose, Nature Rosé offers a superb aromatic bouquet of great intensity with notes of red fruit such as pomegranate and blackcurrants. The palate is full of delicacies with delicious notes of small red fruit such as redcurrants and blackcurrants, perfectly balanced by great freshness.

Maker's notes - Elegant, very pale colour with subtle green reflections. With great finesse, the nose opens up with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. Balanced and fresh, the palate reveals the same seductive aromas and ends with a superb saline finish which offers beautiful length.

Winemaker's Notes - The appellation of Côte de Brouilly sits on the steep slopes of the extinct volcano Mont Brouilly and is surrounded by the larger appellation of Brouilly. The soils here are volcanic with blue stones, from diorite deposits. The Stéphane Aviron Côte de Brouilly is sourced from two separate vineyards of these slopes. The first makes up about 75% of the blend and sits in the poor soils facing southwest on the hillside. Vines average 60+ years old in this parcel and these grapes account for the wine’s depth and structure. The second parcel faces due south with younger vines (45+ years) and contributes ripe juicy fruit to the final blend.

CRU/JRM - Stephane Aviron's wines are stunning value for money.  Highly respected and consistently well made.  This is silky and moreish.

Maker's Notes - Dark black cherry colour with purple. Deep, ripe aromas of black cherry with a hint of black pepper. Very good weight; fleshy and round, very soft and harmonious. Delicious now or could be aged for several years.

Wine Spectator 90 - A well-balanced red in a medium-bodied frame, offering flavors of black fig reduction, leafy tobacco and fresh, loamy earth that show good concentration, with a piercing note of black licorice. Ends with fine tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2025.

Vinous 90 - The 2019 Lucilla is deep, fleshy and superexpressive. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red berry fruit. Floral notes perk up the finish. Lucilla is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Over time, the international varieties have become domesticated.

Wine Advocate 89 - The Castello di Farnetella 2019 Lucilla offers a medium-dark ruby color and nice, easy concentration. The wine is amply perfumed with cherry, fresh plum and summer lavender flower. Other recognizable aromas include baked clay and light spice. Let Lucilla join you on your next take-home pizza night.

Vinous 90 - Pale pink. Racy and focused on the nose, displaying spice-tinged red fruit and citrus pith scents and a hint of florality. In a tense, nervy style, showing fine delineation to its strawberry, redcurrant and clementine flavors. Finishes tight and long, with the citrus fruit and floral notes repeating.

Jeremy's Notes - Fruity and structured.  Good balance and palate feel.  Decent length with complexity but no heaviness.  Nice.

Jeremy's Notes - Stephane Aviron's Julienas has been a big favourite for the last seven vintages.  The 2019 is another gem and perhaps the best vintage yet.  This is about as good as Gamay gets.  Beautifully smooth and well-crafted and a lovely complexity and finish.  Serious value for money.

Vinous 89 - The 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi is laced with sweet red berry fruit, mint, spice, tobacco and dried flowers. This is an especially perfumed style of Chianti from the Colli Senesi.

Wine Advocate 88 - The easygoing Castello di Farnetella 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi delivers bright and lifted aromas of ruby cherry and tart forest berry. The wine shows a main focus on freshness and ease of drinking, but it also has the acidity and the mild, lean-bodied texture that you'd want next to an epic plate of cacio e pepe pasta. This 2019 vintage is slightly more concentrated compared to past editions.

Wine Spectator 88 - A hint of sweet wood smoke graces the strawberry, cherry and earth flavors in this gentle red. It firms up on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

Vinous 89 - The 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi is a pleasantly bold, hearty wine packed with black cherry, game, leather, plum and spice essences. Pretty floral notes appear in the glass to brighten the finish. Readers will find a wine that is very typical of the Colli Senesi appellation.

Wine Spectator 87 - A core of black cherry and plum fruit is wrapped in a cloak of wild herbs, menthol, earth and dusty tannins in this red, which ends with freshness, if on the astringent side.

Wine Advocate 87 - This is an easy, no pretense wine with toasted nut, dry flower and simple fruit or cherry aromas. The Fèlsina 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi Berardenga delivers freshness and good primary intensity over a lean body and texture.

Maker's Notes - Our 14 hectare vineyard in Cairanne is located south west of the old village. The soils are stony, made of clay and sand. The wine is fleshy and develops beautiful aromas of blackcurrant, Garrigue and liquorice. Beautiful deep and intense purple colour. The fruity and expressive nose is an explosion of red fruit with spicy notes of pepper and juniper. Round and silky on the palate, it is a well-balanced wine between ripe fruit and slightly chalky tannins which bring elegance and structure.

Maker's Notes - A lovely rich and fat hand-picked Chenin Blanc from the heart of France's Loire Valley.  Saumur whites are made from Chenin Blanc and are characteristically crisp and fruity. Here the wine has a pale yellow hue and an intense nose with aromas of ripe stone fruits at first with honey and toasty notes following. Strikingly crisp at first it then shows its real fruitiness and generous, ripe structure. And it wraps up well with a pleasingly fresh and clean citrus finish.

Terroir: This cuvée is from two of the best parcels in Moulin-à-Vent: Rochegres and Le Mont. Stéphane Aviron considers this to be one of the best terroirs of Beaujolais. The soils here are white granite with iron and manganese deposits. The vines in the parcels are all old, averaging 65 years old and many over 100 years in age.

Vinification: Grapes are vinified separately until time for the final blending and bottling. Whole bunches are used and then macerated in temperature controlled stainless steel vats for ten days. The wine is aged in neutral Burgundian barriques, 228-liter barrels, that are between three and six years old for 12 to 14 months.

CRU/JRM - From vines of between 55 and 90 years of age located on the steep slopes of the famed La Madone vineyard in Beaujolais, this has deep colour and a fine, perfumed bouquet. The texture is silky, with a pure, fresh finish.  Fantastic value for money.

Wine Spectator 86 - A light-bodied red, with a broad profile offering ripe blackberry and bramble fruit flavors interwoven with herb, savory spice and anise accents. Plush, light tannins.

Wine Spectator 90 - A densely structured red, evoking blackberry, plum, earth and black pepper aromas and flavors. Saturated with fruit yet remains lively and long on the finish. Drink now through 2025.

Vinous 88 - The 2020 Dolcetto d'Alba is fresh and vibrant, with lovely blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender and

licorice. In 2020, the Dolcetto is a bit lighter in body and less persistent than in most vintages because of rain prior to

harvest.

Maker's Notes - The wine has a pale golden hue. The bouquet of this Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise shows intense fruity and floral aromas. On the palate, this wine has deliciously elegant freshness. It is full-bodied without excess, and has lingering fruity aromas on a melon and lemon-tinged finish.

Wine Spectator 87 - Bright cherry, earth and bitter almond mark this light-bodied red. It has a tea-like finish, with a light astringency

Maker's Notes - Elegant velvety crimson-red dress. The nose on this 2019 Rasteau opens with seductive aromas of cocoa and fresh strawberries. Powerful and well-balanced, the palate develops delicious notes of red fruit and black olives with delicate chalky tannins that give this wine real character.

Vinous 92 - Limpid orange. Expressive, mineral-accented nectarine, strawberry and melon scents, along with blood orange and floral nuances. Palate-staining red berry, citrus and pit fruit and honeysuckle flavors deftly meld depth and liveliness. Shows firm cut and repeating mineral and floral notes on the impressively persistent, finely etched finish.

Wine Spectator 88 - This mineral-laced rosé shows elements of red berries, flint and spice encased in a smooth, supple texture. A vivid acidity gives this elegance, with melon and herb notes on the finish.

Maker's Notes - The Nobile is the most representative of our terroir. Here the main star is the Sangiovese which in Italian means “Jupiter’s Blood”. A wine for the Gods. Spontaneously fermented, the Blood of Jupiter naturally deserves our greatest attention, which is why we age the grapes from every single plot separately for 18 months in oak barrels and large casks. Luscious and majestic, Nobile enchants you with its fragrant mulberry notes and delicate cinnamon hints, making you feel like an Olympian.

Jeremy's Notes - This wine has a special smoothness and elegance that evokes simple luxury.  It is not bold or super-concentrated but rather palate-caressing and silky. This pairs well with most food but is an outstanding no-food sipper and we all need those.

Wine Spectator 84 - Ripe, showing lemon, earth and copper flavors. Rich, verging on oily, with moderate length. Vermentino, Viognier and Sauvignon. Drink now.

Maker's Notes - Straw yellow with green hues. Aromas of Mediterranean shrubs, brooms and mature pears with underlying saline scents. The viognier gives some delicate notes of exotic fruits.

The flavour profile is savoury and well-balanced with notes of fresh fruit, a fragrant acidity and a long lingering aftertaste of fresh almonds. Very elegant and rich in the mouth.

Wine Advocate 90 - Even if they are not quite from the Duero zone but from Bierzo, I also tasted their whites produced with Godello grapes, including the 2018 El Zarzal, which has 13% alcohol, very good acidity and low pH. It was produced with fruit from vines averaging 15 years of age, fermented in oak at controlled temperature and matured in French 2,500-liter oak foudres with the lees for eight months. It's expressive and aromatic, with some grape-pulp aromas, somewhat floral and with a spicy touch. It's varietal and clean, with integrated oak, a medium-bodied palate and a refreshing finish, serious and with a mineral twist.

Vinous 89 - The 2018 Chianti Classico is a bold, rustic wine. Dark cherry, tobacco, leather, cedar and game bring out the

wilder side of Chianti Classico, and yet the

2018 retains the essential translucence of

Sangiovese. The 2018 is very much a wine for the dinner table.

Wine Spectator 90 - Dark cherry and red currant fruit melds nicely with notes of red tea and warm earth. Light alder thread stitches up the solid, juicy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Vinous 92 - Diaphanous pink. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes raspberry, pink grapefruit, peach, succulent herbs and honeysuckle. Sappy and incisive on the palate, offering vibrant red berry, citrus zest and bitter quinine flavors that show impressive energy and back-end cut. The citrus and floral notes drive a long, nervy finish that shows fine delineation and mineral lift.

WA 91 - Very pale pink and imbued with the fragrances of crushed stone and sun-dried herbs, the 2019 Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Rose is the embodiment of the appellation. This blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah is medium-bodied yet lively and refreshing, with white peach and melon flavors tinged with red currants, finishing cool and stony.

Wine Spectator 89 - This red is fleshy, yet fluid, its black cherry, black currant and almond notes are persistent through the finish. It's balanced, with a light chalky feel in the end. Drink now.

CRU/JRM - Altare's wines are luxurious and utterly delicious.  There is an amazing smoothness and elegance that few makers achieve.

Wine Advocate 89-91 -The 2018 Côtes de Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem offers hints of grilled meat and oyster sauce, then raspberries, pepper and warmth. Medium to full-bodied.

CRU/JRM - Occultum Lapidem means "hidden jewel" and is a fitting name for this delightful and interesting wine.  A real gem.

Wine Advocate 90-93 - A 60-40 blend of Grenache and Syrah, the 2018 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde l'Esquerda looks potentially outstanding. Crushed stone accents give this full-bodied red a sense of austerity, while the blueberry and cherry fruit is bold and muscular, yielding to a long, mouthwatering finish.

Maker's Notes -

Colour: light yellow, green tints

Nose: intense notes, a blend of fruit (lychee, etc.) and rose, with some lighter notes of citrus (lemon, grapefruit).

Palate: this sharp, dry wine is supple and forthright on entry to the palate.

Nice balance of acidity and a finish with notes of lychees and citrus.

Vinous 89 - The 2020 Crabitey Blanc, 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, offers an attractive mix of bright, floral accents and textural depth. Lemon confit, almonds, dried herbs, sage and mint are nicely lifted in this bright, nuanced white.

Vinous 88 - The 2020 Langhe Nebbiolo Rosso di Rocca is another pretty entry-level offering from Albino Rocca. This aromatic, light-bodied Nebbiolo is a tasty every-day drinker. Sweet red cherry, blood orange and spice linger.

Who makes it?

The Setteporte Estate is a family run winery on the southwest side of Sicily’s active volcano, Mount Etna. The family has had a winemaking heritage here in Biancavilla dating back generations. The vineyards sit at an altitude of between 650 – 800 m and take advantage of the red volcanic soil. These vineyards need to be terraced to cope with the slope on which they are planted.

How they make it?

As you might already have worked out, Etna Rosso is easily translated to mean “Etna red”. So, it is no surprise that the main grape variety in this blend is Nerello Mascalese as it is gaining attention as an Etna grape. Besides Mascalese, there is also an addition of about 5% Nerello Cappuccio. Both of these are local grape varieties and importantly, the vineyards have organic certification. To let the wine come together, it spends 12 months in French oak, 20% of which is new.

What does it taste like?

There is plenty of intense cherry fruit with smoky nutmeg and earth. It is a medium bodied wine with supple tannins and fresh acid. A floral note joins the minerals and spice on the finish. It is a good drink.

What to drink with it?

With the savouriness of this wine it is a good companion for range of foods and flavours. For instance, a good place to start would be something simple like a tomato based sauce over pasta. Grilled lamb chops would be another.

Quickie review - An elegant take on a classic Etna red with intense cherry and a smoky minerality. Made for food, but it is good by itself.

JEREMY'S NOTES - The 'baby' Amarone from Begali.  Intense bouquet, full-flavoured yet soft on the palate.  Nice finish.  Yummy.

WA 88 - The 2016 Chianti Classico by Pagliarese is an elegantly trimmed down red wine with delicate aromas of wild berry, red cherry, cassis and spice. Those fruit tones are generously and seamlessly integrated within the mid-weight body of the wine. As you should expect from Sangiovese (blended in this case with 10% Canaiolo and Mammolo), you get a healthy dose of balanced acidity on the easygoing finish.

Wine Spectator 89 - Cherry and plum paste notes are wrapped in a light-handed mix of singed alder and warmed licorice. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Wine Advocate 87 - The tank-matured 2018 Vacqueyras Domaine des Genets—a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre—is a solid representation of the vintage. A bit lighter in weight than expected and slightly herbal, it's a silky-textured, easy-drinking wine redolent of cherries and garrigue. Drink it over the next few years.

Wine Advocate 86 - Made in a distinctly savory, Rhône-like style, the 2014 Shay's Flat Vineyard Shiraz delivers notes of espresso, asphalt and black olives.

Wine Spectator 93 - A refined, powerful white, with enveloping flavors of almond, white peach and spiced apple infused with wool, baking spice and vivid mineral elements. Dried flowers, heather, matchstick and honey notes mesh together on the long, lingering finish. Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Vermentino. Drink now through 2024.

Wine Advocate 89 - The 2017 Côtes du Roussillon Occultum Lapidem Blanc is a 60-40 blend of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, half fermented and aged in steel, the other half in demi-muids. It's plump and medium-bodied, with notes of lime zest and melon, a silky mouthfeel and hints of peach on the fresh, vibrant finish.

Wine Advocate 89 - Matured in a mix of tank and demi-muids, the 2020 Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs boasts scents of ripe pears, melons and a hint of citrus. It's medium to full-bodied and round in the mouth, and while not that rich or concentrated, it's nicely balanced, citrusy and long on the finish.

CRU/JRM - A perennial favourite and serious value for money.  Medium-bodied, cherries and raspberries at the front and a silky textured finish.

WA 88 - Chapoutier's large-production white Crozes, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Blanc La Petite Ruche, is a modest, melon and citrus-scented wine that's plump and round on the medium-bodied palate, lush and easy to drink, with a finish that's marked by notes of salted licorice and citrus zest.

Wine Advocate 90 - Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Fleur la Mothe offers up pronounced notions of cassis, blackberry pie and Black Forest cake with hints of pencil shavings, black olives and lavender. Medium bodied, the palate has an impressive intensity of crunchy black fruits with a lively backbone and well-managed, grainy tannins, finishing long and fragrant.

Vinous 90 - I was pleased to see that the aromatics on the 2018 Fleur La Mothe have gained more refinement and focus since I tasted it from barrel, offering blackberry and briar, touches of blue fruit and sous-bois scents emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine weight and focus and just the right amount of grip on the structured finish. Allow 3–4 years in bottle, because this Cru Bourgeois can age seriously well.

This is a pure and naked expression of the Tuscan grape with cherry, dried raspberry, terracotta and bitter almond. The Da.Di reveals compelling richness of fruit and a natural, mid-weight texture followed by dusty tannins.

Wine Spectator 93 - Fresh, ripe and well-defined, with raspberry, bitter cherry and plum puree notes that race through, carried by a fine minerally spine while savory and sanguine details infuse the finish. Drink now through 2030.

Vinous 92 - Vivid ruby. Displays ripe, smoke-accented cherry and dark berry

scents that are complemented by hints of licorice, game and cracked pepper. Juicy and broad in the mouth, offering appealingly jammy red and blue fruit liqueur and baking spice flavors and a

salty touch of olive. Finishes long and

smooth, with well-knit tannins and repeating pepper and cherry notes.

Wine Advocate 91 - An exceptional vintage for this wine, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage les Meysonniers showcases violets, cassis and crushed stone aromas on its complex, nuanced nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's silky and seductive, with a long, exquisitely balanced finish.

Wine Spectator 88 - Fresh and well-spiced, this balanced, medium-bodied red shows a pure beam of crushed black cherry fruit flavors, with accents of loamy earth, orange peel and dried herbs. Drink now.

JRM - A perrenial favourite for good reason.  Meduim to full bodied with , finesse, complexity and length.  The tannins are moderate and the mouthfeel is sumptuous.

Burghound 87 - A deft application of wood easily allows the pretty red pinot fruit aromas to shine. The super-fresh and highly energetic flavors possess excellent cut and a lovely mouth feel while delivering solid depth and length. This is very good for its level and a wine that should drink well almost immediately if desired.

Wine Advocate 90 - The flagship wine that carries the name of the project is currently the 2016 Cepa 21, produced with youngish Tempranillo matured in French barrique for 12 months. It has some spicy and smoky notes from the élevage in oak, which gives it a showy profile. It's ripe without excess with a sweetness of fruit that coats the palate and makes it a bit jammy. There are plenty of tannins to stand up to food

Wine Spectator 92 - Plump and bright, with star fruit, green almond and chamomile notes backed by an alluring lemon shortbread accent on the finish. Utterly delicious. Marsanne and Roussanne.

Wine Advocate 89 - The 2020 Crozes Hermitage les Launes Blanc features modest, composed aromas of melon, pear and citrus. It's a mellow, medium-bodied effort that hits the right buttons, delivering ample weight and richness on the palate without sacrificing length on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast 90 - Made with organically grown Sangiovese, this bright red has aromas of iris, baking spice and underbrush. The savory palate offers red cherry, star anise and vanilla alongside polished tannins. Drink through 2026.

Jeremy's Notes - As ubiquitous as Chardonnay has become, Burgundy is still its homeland and with good reason.  Terroir matters and Burgundy is all about terroir. This is about as good a value in Burgundian Chardonnay as it is possible to find.  Smooth, elegant, complex and long.

Vinous 91 - Vivid orange-pink. Mineral tinged red berries, orange zest and nectarine aromas show fine clarity and pick up a floral nuance with air.  Juicy and focused on the palate offering sappy

tangerine and strawberry flavors that deepen steadily and take on a spicy white pepper note through the back half. Finishes long, gently chewy and precise, with repeating red fruit and spice notes.

Wine Spectator 90 - Pure and chiseled in feel, with racy-edged white cherry, rose petal, jicama and jasmine notes backed by a lingering wet stone accent on the finish. This has length and subtleties that set it apart from the pack. Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren.

Wine Spectator 90 - This elegant rosé combines orange pith, white cherry and grapefruit flavors, with undertones of mineral, spice and heather accents. Refreshing acidity gives this a mouthwatering finish.

Wine Advocate 89 - Plump and rounded on the palate, Miraval's 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose follows that up with a mouthwatering, citrusy finish. It's a pretty standard Provence offering but executed at a high level, with attractive scents of crushed stone accenting peach, melon and lime-like notes. Just who owns this wine estate may be in the hands of a French court, but the winemaking is firmly under the control of the Perrin family and reflects their high standards of quality.

Maker's Notes - Bright gold. It offers a nose of tropical fruit, minerality and baking spices. On the palate it is round, smooth with silky texture and spicy and mineral finish.

CRU/JRM - This is luscious, moreish and very delicious. Silky smooth and palate caressing.  Hard to resist.

Maker's Notes -

Appearance: intense garnet red.

Nose: very floral (violet), developing into liquorice and spices.

Palate: supple attack with a dominance of red fruits. The finish is long with spices.

Vinous 90 - The 2016 Caronne Sainte

Gemme is raised for 12 months in 25% new oak. It has a generous raspberry and blackberry scented bouquet with just a touch of cigar box, though I would have liked more personality expressed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is commendable depth here,

the acidity well judged and it sports excellent purity and length on the finish.

There is a tender quality about this Caronne Sainte Gemme underneath that

more obvious power.

Wine Advocate 88 - The 2016 Caronne Ste Gemme is medium garnet-purple colored and quite woody to begin, with a core of cassis and plums with menthol and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, taut and savory in the mouth, it has a chewy finish.

Wine Advocate 88 - the 2012 Lucidus rouge offers Cote Rotie-like olive, underbrush and both blackberry and raspberry-styled fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and lightly textured, it carries surprising richness and depth. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years as well.

Jeremy's Notes - Medium to full-bodied, relatively complex nose, smooth palate feel with decent length.  Lovely fragrance.  This is really well done.

Maker's Notes - Appearance: radiant, pale yellow hue flecked with gold.

Nose: complex and expressive releasing fruity (apricot, citrus) and floral (acacia) notes, along with honey and vanilla.

Palate: this fresh, full-bodied wine is broad on entry to the palate and shows a lovely minerality and floral aromas on the finish.

Wine Advocate 91 - The second wine in the price hierarchy is the 2017 Almirez, produced with vines aged 10 to 35 years old from their 72 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels, 30% of them new, the rest second use, for 14 months. 2017 is one of the driest years with one of the earliest harvests ever, but surprisingly enough, the wines feel lighter, fresh and aromatic, expressive and open and do not show any heat. Furthermore, it feels like a fresher year in the sense that the wine integrates the oak quite well. The change here, as Marcos Eguren explained, has been in the toast of the barrels, something they started in 2015; they have lighter toasts, from a long and slow toasting of the oak, and the barrel respects the fruit a lot more. Fine-tuning continues.

WA 92 - The oak-aged 2016 I Sistri (100% Chardonnay) opens to a soft golden color with bright luminosity. There is a lot of character and aromatic intensity here, thanks to the optimally ripened quality of fruit. You get warmer tones of peach, pear and apricot, but you also get cooler tones of mint and white almond. Twelve months in oak give this wine a mid-weight feel with toasted flavors and creamy density.

Vinous 88 - The 2016 I Sistri is a pretty wine, with good varietal character in its lightly tropical, citrus and floral notes. This mid-weight, nuanced Chardonnay will drink well for the next few years.

Wine Advocate 88 - Broad and corpulent, the 2019 Saint-Joseph Deschants Blanc is honeyed on the nose, with ripe pear and melon notes. Full-bodied, rich and round, it appears to be a fast-maturing example of this cuvée.

CRU/JRM - Made in the modern Rioja style, this is a deep, lush, luxurious wine with good structure and length.  Very appealing.

Jeremy’s Notes: Lovely bouquet of acacia flowers, pear, lemon peel and grapefruit. Light body, with a delicate, persistent mousse and a fresh, tingly finish. Just divine! Enjoy on its own, as an aperitif, or with lighter meals and desserts.

Burghound 87 - Notably ripe yet nicely fresh aromas include those of plum, dark currant and plenty of earth. There is fine volume to the velvety and round middle weight flavors that offer very good depth in the context of what is typical for the genre, on the mildly warm and rustic finale. Worth considering.

Wine Advocate 91 - A step up from La Petite Ruche, Chapoutier's 2019 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Les Meysonniers ratchets up the intensity and complexity, adding hints of honey and crushed stone to notes of ripe melon and citrus. Medium to full-bodied, round and succulent on the palate, it finishes with mouth-coating flavors and ample length. Aged in a mix of demi-muids and stainless steel, it's a deftly balanced but opulent Marsanne that drinks well now, so why wait?

Wine Advocate 90 - First produced in 2012, the most affordable of the reds produced here is the 2015 Calados del Puntido, and it's Tempranillo selected from 25 hectares of vineyards. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French barriques for 16 months. This comes from Páganos, and tasting it next to other wines of similar prices from other Eguren wineries, the character of iodine of the wines is there; it has the textured palate of the wines from Páganos/Laguardia, from soils that aren't very deep and have quite a lot of silt. It's quite glyceric and round. It's medium to full-bodied and fills your mouth, and it has tannins that are rounder, more unctuous, quite different from the wines from San Vicente. A clear step up from the 2014.

Wine Spectator 89 - This red shows some muscle, with underpinnings of iron and black tea flanking the currant and blackberry flavors. Details of savory spice, olive and cola layer onto the structured finish. Drink now through 2025.

Wine Spectator 88 - This has steely acidity that cuts through flavors of melon, white blossoms, tart apple and peach. Elegant and pure, with chalk and lime zest.

CRU/JRM - A cut above most southern Rhone whites, this has plenty depth, and good intensity.  The flavour profile is quite complex and satisfying.  This would do good justice to fish, scallops and shrimp dishes, or provide a superb aperitif on its own.

Vinous 91 - The 2019 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a classic wine for the year. Bright, perfumed and light on its feet, the 2019 Chianti Classico Berardenga is so wonderfully expressive. There is a feeling of vibrancy to the 2019 that is hugely appealing. A wine of energy more than power. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon linger in a gorgeous Chianti Classico that is more about transparency than power.

Wine Advocate 91 - One of the best vantage points for drinking Chianti Classico is at the entry level. A wine like the Fèlsina 2019 Chianti Classico Berardenga offers so much freshness and cheerful, easy-drinking appeal. It's a terrific partner to pizza, pasta or basically anything on the trattoria menu tonight. This wine shows bright cherry flavors and redcurrant with pressed flowers and some tangy blood orange. It is steady and generous, with lots of bright primary intensity.

Wine Spectator 90 - This is lively, its cherry, strawberry and orange peel flavors picking up earth and woodsy accents. Firm tannins sweep in on the finish, yet this stays fresh and long. A touch more austere than many '19s.

Wine Advocate 91 - The 2018 Reserva Única was produced with Tempranillo and 3% Graciano fermented destemmed with indigenous yeasts selected from their vineyards and matured in oak barrels, 60% French and 40% American, for 24 months, including malolactic. The wines from 2018 are more delicate, have very good precision and feel fresh but have structure and balance and incisive tannins, and this is a very good example of it.

Vinous 92 - The 2018 Nobile di Montepulciano is pretty and understated in the glass, wafting up with a mix of black currants, savory herbs and worn

leather hints. This is round with a balanced inner sweetness, displaying mineral tinged wild berry fruit and nuances of confectionary spice. The 2018 leaves only a gentle coating of fine tannins while finishing with citrus nuances and a hint of hard red candies. The Avignonesi style lent quite well to this warm and rainy vintage; as a result, they

created a very delicate yet likable Nobile.

Wine Spectator 91 - A powerful red, with savory eucalyptus, tobacco and tomato leaf aromas and flavors offset by cherry and plum notes. Beefy tannins set the stage for a lingering, grainy finish.

An attractive, aromatic nose just beginning to show some development, the red and black cherry fruit is joined with a hint of undergrowth. Good body and silky smooth tannins make for an elegant finish.

Wine Spectator 92 - Tasty lemon curd, verbena white peach and chamomile notes are guided by a flattering whiff of shortbread through the plump finish. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2025.

Wine Advocate 88 - Honeydew and cantaloupe notes feature prominently on the nose of the 2020 Saint Joseph les Challeys Blanc, an 80-20 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. Medium to full-bodied, it's not the biggest, richest Saint-Joseph blanc, but it's smooth, easy drinking and harmonious, with a clean, refreshing finish.

Maker's Notes -

Appearance: very intense, beautiful ruby red hue.

Nose: the nose is powerful and shows great finesse. The alternation of strawberry jam aromas and spicy/peppery notes creates a very pleasant bouquet.

Palate: floral then spicy (pepper) notes on entry. The wine displays a superb tannic structure and lovely long-lingering flavours.

WA 90 - Boasting a mid-weight style, the 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva exhibits a firm and tightly knit texture that is carefully interwoven with dark fruit, spice, leather and gravel. I really love the fact you can taste those crushed rocks in this new generation of wines from one of my favorite Italian appellations, Chianti Classico. Those aromas offer a level of elegance that is specific to this beautiful territory. This wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with 5% Canaiolo and 5% Mammolo aged in large oak casks.

WS 91 - Intense and complex, this combines cherry and berry fruit with earth, iron, leather and spice flavors, finishing with sour cherry, leather and tobacco notes. Drink now through 2022.

WA 90+ - Piancornello does a great job with its lower-end Rosso. Indeed, the 2016 Rosso di Montalcino makes a great impression in the glass, thanks to its beautifully dark ruby color. The bouquet offers black cherry, spice, tar and licorice. The mouthfeel is simple and crisp. It makes the perfect pairing partner to wood-fired pizza with extra mozzarella cheese melted on top.

CRU/JRM  Once again and not surprisingly, very hard to tell this from a full-blown Brunello.  A magnificent effort and a steal of a bargain.  The yields are less but the quality is stunning. Claudio Monaci is the little master of Montalcino.  Delectably complex and long.  Bravo.

Wine Advocate 92+ - 2011 was a warmer and riper year, but there's not a huge difference between the 2011 Viña Bosconia Reserva and the 2010; this is perhaps mellower, with more integrated acidity. It's 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.3 and 6.7 grams of acidity measured in tartaric acid per liter, and it fermented in the 144-year-old oak vats and matured in used American oak barrels for five years.

Wine Advocate 90 - The 2016 Cap de Faugeres (composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) has a medium garnet-purple color and reveals notions of warm plums, blackberry pie and black raspberries with touches of pencil shavings and sautéed herbs. Medium-bodied with a velvety texture and good core of black fruits, it finishes on a long-lasting earthy note.

Wine Spectator 90 - This is racy and fresh, showing a beam of loganberry and red currant coulis flavors driving along, laced with subtle savory detail and tobacco and iron notes. The racy finish is carried by mouthwatering acidity. Drink now through 2028.

Wine Advocate 91 - The Vendimia Seleccionada is produced with the best plot of the vineyards they use for the Emilio Moro range in a given year, and for the second year in a row, it was the vineyard they call Turquilla, as the 2017 Vendimia Seleccionada that I tasted next to the 2016 was also produced with grapes from that vineyard. 2017 is a very challenging year, as 50% of the crop was lost to frost. They have done a very good job for the conditions of the year, but having the 2016 next to it shows the superiority of the older vintage, as this does not reach the same quality levels; there is less complexity and depth. It has fine, grainy tannins and a supple, dry finish and it opens up quite nicely in the glass.

Wine Spectator 93 - This rich white is backed by lots of freshness, with pineapple, honey cream and mango notes, infused with floral, baking spice and toast details. Graceful, with lots of complexity through the citrusy finish. Drink now through 2026.

Maker's Notes - Clean and vibrant with a straw yellow colour. The nose stands out for the intensity and complexity of its aromas but with the unmistakable personality of Godello; the elegance of careful preparation and respectful ageing. On the palate, it is unctuous and balanced, with a well-integrated acidity and a longlasting aftertaste.

Wine Spectator 91 - Inviting aromas and flavors of baking spice and pastry give the more submerged notes of apple, peach and honey time to emerge as this white unfolds from start to finish. Opulent and heady, with a succulent finish.

Burghound 88 - Fresh and pretty aromas of green apple, citrus and a wisp of pear introduce round and delicious yet attractively vibrant flavors that flash a subtle minerality on the agreeably saline and dry finish. I like the texture and while this is not especially complex, and there is a hint of warmth, I do like the clean delivery. Note that this could be enjoyed young or held for a few years first.

Vinous 88 - The 2012 Le Sartre is juicy and exuberant, with lovely mid-palate depth and terrific overall balance, especially at this level. Sweet tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried flowers add nuance in a racy, hearty red to drink over the next few years.

Wine Spectator 88 - Juicy and enticing, with raspberry and plum fruit forming the core while anise and fruitcake notes fill in the background. A tarry spine holds the finish, letting the fruit play out.

Vinous 91 The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Gepin is terrific. Dark, rich and voluptuous, but with plenty of structure, the 2015 expresses all of the natural intensity of the year while retaining a very appealing sense of translucency. Succulent dark cherry, plum, spice, leather, mint and dried herbs add to the wine's forward, racy personality.

CRU/JRM  Aged one year in large oak casks.  Good depth on the nose - cherries and stone - quite expansive and plush on the palate with dense fruitiness and some minerality.  Excellent balance and fair density with good length.

Vinous 92 - Saturated ruby. Bright and focused on the nose, displaying ripe, red fruit, lavender and spice aromas. Juicy and openknit, offering concentrated,

appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and

candied licorice flavors that tighten up and become livelier as the wine opens up. Finishes long, smooth and juicy, with resonating licorice, red berry notes and just a hint of dusty tannins.

CRU/JRM - Old vine Chardonnay with good concentration, intensity and texture. Aromas of green apple, lime zest, lemon and white blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth texture and well balanced acidity.  Very nice stuff.

Wine Advocate 90-92 - The 2016 Fourney has an attractive, slightly earthy bouquet that opens nicely in the bottle, well defined and full of charm. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite classic in style with plenty of tobacco and smoke towards the structured finish. Give this two or three years in bottle and you should have a fine Saint Emilion.

Wine Spectator 88 - Juicy and fresh, with a core of cassis and dark plum lined with singed alder notes and backed by a mouthwatering sanguine hint.

Wine Advocate 86- Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois annual tasting, the 2015 Larose Perganson felt a little muddled on the nose compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly tough tannin, muscular yet balanced with a firm finish that will hopefully soften with bottle age. Tasted September 2017.

Jeremy’s Notes: An entry-level priced Burgundian Pinot Noir with lovely complexity, depth and finish. Vosne-Romanée richness at a bargain price. An inexpensive way to fall in love with fine Burgundy.

Wine Advocate 89 - The third vintage of the new organic Tempranillo produced without added sulfur is the 2018 La Felisa. It reached 13.5% alcohol and kept healthy acidity parameters in a cooler year than 2017. The wine was produced with grapes from vines aged 15 to 25 years old, fermented with 18 days maceration and matured for seven to 10 months in oak barrels. It has a tender nose with floral notes, somehow delicate and expressive, coming through as fully developed, perhaps a little fragile, aromatic and very open. It feels like it's developing quite quickly, even if it has quite a lot of tannin. I'd opt for drinking this sooner rather than later.

Decanter 92 - A blend of 60% Chenin Blanc with equal parts Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. This has finesse on the palate, freshness and a delicate, persistent mousse. Crisp acidity, with vibrant lemon sherbet characters, but also plush and rounded on the mid-palate. Its complex and long with a pronounced green apple character on the finish, and it will keep.

Wine Enthusiast 90 - A blend of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, this is a round, mouthfilling sparkling wine with ripe apple flavors layered with grapefruit acidity and a tight, final texture that is crisp and mineral.

Vinous 88 - Light pink in color. Aromas of fresh flowers, flower stem, watermelon rind and strawberry. On the palate, light and bright, lots of red raspberry, straightforward not too complex.

Wine Enthusiast 88 - With some tannins, this is a full-bodied and ripe sparkling rosé. It has strong wild strawberry flavors that give the wine a very fruity character. A sense of structure enhances the naturally rich nature of the wine.

Wine Spectator 87 - Fresh and nicely rounded, offering plump strawberry, red currant and peach flavors that hang gently on the finish.

Maker's Notes - Very deep, intense cherry red in colour. It is expressive and elegant on the nose with an outstanding aromatic intensity based on the Tempranillo variety,

the spices and the torrefacto notes from its passage through French oak, bringing richness, volume and complexity to the whole. It is broad and meaty in the mouth with polished tannins and a long and persistent aftertaste.

CRU/JRM - Moro's Malleolus is a consistently top-notch Ribera with great depth, length and satisfying palate.  The 2018 continues a stellar reputation for quality and luxury.

JRM - The 'Meritage" wine of the Langhe, combining the finest qualities of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Complex, elegant and long with a sumptuous nose and great palate-feel. A unique and luxurious wine.

Maker's Notes - This is a powerful and generous wine expressing itself with delicacy thanks to a very delicate tannic structure. Intense flavors of ripe fruits and spices combined to a fine acidity – a hyphen between richness and strength reflecting perfectly the terroir of Heathcote.

Wine Spectator 90 - This is very spicy, with vanilla, sandalwood and clove notes playing against currant, cherry and smoke flavors. Dusty tannins coat the mouth as this exits lazily on the finish.

Burghound 88 - A brooding and somber nose consists of ripe plum, pungent earth and a hint of the sauvage. The solidly well-concentrated flavors are lush to the point of opulence while brimming with dry extract that buffers the moderately firm tannic spine on the mildly rustic finale. This could be enjoyed young.

Wine Spectator 88 - This red is supple and focused, with bright cherry, raspberry and currant flavors. Picks up a touch of earth and spice as it fades gracefully on the finish. Drink now.

Vinous 86-88 - The 2019 Côte de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes is fresh and well defined on the nose of blackberry and bilberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip and a pleasant, quite saline finish. A delicious and pure Côtes de Nuits Village.

Wine Advocate 92 - Toasted marshmallow and grilled melon notes appear on the nose of the 2017 Saint-Joseph Les Granilites Blanc. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it represents the next step up from the Deschants bottling. Sourced from the Tournon-Mauves area of the appellation, it's marked by the region's granitic soils, remaining fresh and long on the finish, despite being velvety in texture.

Wine Spectator 92 - Ripe and rich, with brioche, white ginger, creamed melon and green fig fruit flavors entwined together and gliding through the broad, creamy finish.

Vinous 92-93 - Bright and expansive on the perfumed nose, displaying vibrant dark berry and floral scents that develop spicy character as the wine opens up. In an energetic, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of licorice and candied flowers. Finishes very long and chewy, with building tannins and repeating spiciness.

Wine Advocate 92 -Aged mainly in barrel, the 2018 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon boasts flamboyant aromas of cracked pepper, clove, baking spices and cedar set against a backdrop of black cherries and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, richly textured and long on the finish, it shows the structure of its granite sources—a sense of tannic restraint that suggests ample aging potential, yet doesn't preclude present-day enjoyment.

Wine Spectator 93 - Fresh and focused, with a lovely beam of dark cherry and bitter plum reduction notes laced with graphite, violet and anise. Racy, tightly focused finish. Best from 2021 through 2029.

Wine Advocate 92 - Bottled just a week before my visit, the 2018 Saint-Péray Lieu-dit Hongrie was already showing off its stuff, bursting with notes of grilled pineapple and citrus. It's medium to full-bodied but crisp and firmly built, with a silky feel on the palate and a lingering, nicely focused finish.

Wine Advocate 96 - The 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva has all I expect from a Reserva from Tondonia, complexity, elegance and evolution, a developed nose with notes of forest floor and wild berries, herbs and flowers, a touch of iodine, brick dust and very fine, polished tannins. It has the seriousness and elegance of Tondonia. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name of the grape) and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in the ancient oak vats from when the winery was created 144 years ago and matured in well-seasoned, American oak barrels for six years.

Wine Spectator 93 - This elegant red is fine and creamy on the palate, with notes of sun-dried cherry, iron, spiced orange peel, graphite and mocha that slowly unfurl. A bit high-toned on the nose as well as loaded with mineral aromas. Muscular tannins are deftly integrated, while savory dried mint and eucalyptus notes play on the lasting finish. Tempranillo, Garnacho, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2030.