A blend of 60% Grenache, 16% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of Clairette Rose, Counoise, Terre Noir and Vaccarèse, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Alchimie is a strong effort. Black cherries, black olives... Read More
Stunning nose of Amalfi lemon, yellow peach and mirabelle. Very straight and sleek, with serious stony minerality and enough creaminess wrapped around this to prevent the wine from feeling austere at any point. Spot-on balance... Read More
This Burgundian-minded blend of 50% Pinot Gris, 45% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligote is exciting to try each vintage. This year's is rich yet zesty, starting with aggressive aromas of lemon juice, baked apricot, cream and toast... Read More
This is a rich and satisfying expression of Pinot Noir by Adam Lee. Candied black-cherry and buttery cinnamon roll aromas lead the nose into a tighter palate, where ripe red-cherry and pomegranate flavors are spiced by cracked... Read More
Such demure depth and focus on the nose, showing high-grade cedar wood with brooding yet fresh blackberries, cassis and cigar, as well as hints of dark olives and red chili pepper. Beautiful cabernet character here. This is a... Read More
The 2020 Syrah Hudson Vineyard T Block is a dense, brooding wine. Black fruit, spice, gravel, menthol and dried herbs add to an impression of gravitas. There is plenty of depth, obviously, but the 2020 is not especially refined... Read More
A ripe, fresh and pretty nose layers notes of black cherry, raspberry, violet and a discreet whiff of earth. The rich, vibrant and delicious middle weight flavors possess a velvety texture that extends to the lingering finale... Read More
The Bodega Contador was founded in 1995 when Benjamin Romeo, winemaker and grower, acquired a centuries old cave beneath the Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra (Rioja). In 1996 he made the first vintage of his “La Cueva... Read More
Like the majority of these wines, the percentage of wine in concrete that didn't see any oak in the 2020 Treinta y Dos has been increased to 50%, and the remaining 50% matured in French oak barrels (only 10% new) for nine... Read More
Intense aromas of oatmeal, lemon pastry, roasted pineapples and mineral. Fresh, bone-dry and creamy with good volume and substance. 40% viura, 30% garnacha blanca and 30% maturana blanca.
Rocking aromatics of spiced cherries, spring flowers, forest floor, and sagebrush all emerge from the 2020 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard, a pure, medium-bodied, elegant, gorgeous, balanced Pinot Noir from a cooler valley floor... Read More
Lots of herbal and pine freshness animates this medium-bodied but compact dry riesling. Very good ripeness, but not voluminous or weighty. Serious minerality at the long, deep finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.... Read More
Leafy herbs, red and blue fruits, tobacco, cedarwood, and iron notes all emerge from the 2020 Camaspelo, another up-front, charming, soft, surprisingly supple red from this team. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has fine... Read More
Starting with the classic cuvée, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre. This sexy, medium to full-bodied effort has a great nose of black raspberries, mulled strawberries,... Read More
This is a young structured wine that needs time to bring out its fine richness. Tannins and spice (with a smoky character and flavors from wood aging) give this wine a serious mien. It has aging to do, drink from 2025. ROGER VOSS... Read More
The 2020 Franc Mayne is dense, resonant and beautifully explosive in the glass. Sumptuous dark red/purplish fruit, rose petals, mint and lavender all saturate the palate. This heady Saint-Émilion really delivers the goods.... Read More
A new, limited production wine from Suduiraut made only in select vintages with just 800 bottles produced in 2020. Honeyed lemon and caramel on the nose, with acacia and toasted elements. Cinnamon, vanilla and orange zest open... Read More
Spicy aromas offering rich berry fruits give this dense, luxurious wine its structure and concentration. It is smoky, balancing acidity against blackberry flavors. The wine will age and will be ready to drink from 2025. —... Read More
The 2020 Chardonnay Drum Canyon Vineyard is impressive. Rich, dense and expansive, this is another terrific example of how compelling Chardonnay can be in the Sta. Rita Hills. Tangerine oil, lemon confit, mint, honeysuckle and... Read More
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is terrific, offering classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and sappy flower notes. As with the Boisrenard release, this has plenty of tannins and structure, but it’s... Read More
Not as rich or concentrated as I was expecting, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes still delivers ample layers of dark fruit, hints of cola, mint and spice elements. It's full-bodied, silky and long, but it looks... Read More
Pretty if restrained aromas are comprised by notes of red and dark currant, newly turned earth, orange peel and a vague floral wisp. There is excellent detail and vibrancy to the delicious if not especially dense flavors that... Read More
Ripe and appealingly fresh aromas of red and dark cherry coulis enjoy top notes of various spices and violet. The super-sleek, intense and beautifully well-detailed middle weight flavors deliver very fine length on the dusty,... Read More
A mentholated top note is present on the even spicier and slightly more floral-suffused aromas of airy dark berries, sandalwood and jasmine tea. The lacy, even lilting, flavors also exude a subtle bead of minerality on the nicely... Read More