Blend: 87% merlot, 13% cabernet sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2042

94 Points - James Suckling
“Such beautiful blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character here. It's medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a succulent finish. All here for the second wine. 87% merlot and 13% cabernet sauvignon"

Blend: 75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2067

96 Points - The Wine Independent
“A blend of 75% Semillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, and 2% Muscadelle, with 158 g/L residual sugar, the 2022 Coutet is pale to medium straw in color. After a little swirling, the nose erupts with gorgeous lime cordial, fresh grapefruit, and mandarin peel scents, followed by wafts of wet pebbles, freshly shaved ginger, and beeswax. The palate is vibrant and shimmery with fantastic intensity and tension, finishing long and layered.”

Blackberry, anise and leather aromas form the best power trio since the Jimi Hendrix Experience. You also can't beat the Dead Horse's boysenberry gelato and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors. Additional notes of thyme and fennel provide support, along with elegant, silky tannins and bright acidity.

The Les Argilieres vineyard is 4ha and very well located, but much less known than its other Premier Cru neighbours. Wines from this plot are powerful, rich and rustic. Plump raspberry fruit, spicy with strict structure and tannins.

Tequila Cascahuin Destino Blanco Limited is a premium, limited-edition blanco tequila crafted by Cascahuin, known for its traditional production methods. It's made with 100% Blue Weber agave and bottled at still strength, unfiltered, to showcase its intense flavors. This tequila is a celebration of Cascahuín's 70-year heritage, featuring a blend of six distillations using traditional tahona, stone ovens, and wild fermentation techniques.

Medium garnet, broad rim with purple hues. Fine herbal-tobacco savouriness, red cherry fruit, a hint of clementine zest; a fresh bouquet. Complex, juicy, elegant, well-integrated acidity, delicate tannins, light-bodied, wild red berry fruit, mineral finish; certainly has further ageing potential.

This vineyard planted back in 1937 is quite unique. Just a mile and a half from the Napa border on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas, the vines are planted at a 900 feet altitude along steep, contoured terraces (now prohibited). The extraordinary vines sit in the fog and has adapted to these special features. The grapes have a thicker, tougher skins. The result is a very deep purple wine with increased and impressive structure & tannins. It also has a scabrous character like a peach skin effect.

Colour: Opaque, intense red. Aromas: Mature red fruits with a cloak of enveloping spicy notes and hints of chocolate and liquorice. Taste: Great strength, balance and persistence.

Nose: Aromas of ripe red fruits, earthy notes, and a hint of spice.
Taste: Rich and full-bodied with flavors of blackberries, plums, and a touch of leather.
Palate: Smooth and well-balanced with a long, lingering finish of dark chocolate and a touch of smokiness.

Ripe red and black berry fruit hold the melody on this wine, while dried mint, olive brine and licorice play base. Chunky tannins overlay satiny fruit on a palate that's luscious and mouthfilling. There's a touch of heat from the alcohol. Christina Pickard

Clear, direct fruit flavors such as red cherries and cranberries are nicely framed in moderate tannins and balanced acidity, while spicy accents of clove and cedar weave in as you sip.

This deep garnet wine has a nose of black cherry, coffee bean and black olive. Spicy on the palate, it offers flavors of licorice, anisette and eucalyptus that register more strongly at first than pomegranate and raspberry. Bold tannins build in volume and then slowly fade into a bright finish with Valencia orange notes. Mike DeSimone

Nose: Intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and violet, with hints of earth and spice.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dark fruits, such as blackberry and plum, complemented by notes of licorice and tobacco.

Palate: Well-structured with firm tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, lingering finish.

Earthy aromas of graphite, dark-skinned fruit and new leather emerge from the glass. The savoury palate offers ripe blackberry, licorice and black pepper alongside firm tannins. Kerin O’Keefe

Forest floor, blue flower, menthol and a whiff of crushed celery lead the nose. The linear palate offers pomegranate, star anise and coffee bean alongside fine-grained tannins, while bright acidity keeps it light on its feet. Kerin O’Keefe

Strong wood-spice aromas of sandalwood and incense float across the cranberry and thyme notes of the nose on this bottling. The woody character spreads through the palate, where cigar-box flavors coat the core of baked strawberry and cherry. Matt Kettmann

The nose is earthy, herbal and sour, like drinking an elegant cocktail on the porch of a cabin in the woods. The palate is instead full of cherries and plums and finishes salty and nutty, like an artisanal chocolate. The tannins are solid but navigable, and the acidity is substantial.

The wine is quite reserved on the nose to start, but with a decant it opens up nicely. The wine has aromas of red-cherry preserve, ripe plum, clove, anise and cinnamon. The palate is elegant with notes of dried leaves, dark chocolate and dark cherries. The tannins are already well integrated, giving the wine a magnificent texture. Jeff Porter

This is a barrel-forward offering of the variety. Aromas of café au lait, scorched earth, dark fruit and spice are followed by sumptuous dark fruit and barrel flavors. A thread of acidity runs throughout it. It needs time for all the pieces to come together. Sean P. Sullivan

Winemaker Matt Dees is considered one of the best winemakers anywhere, and this blend is ample reason to believe the hype. Intense, focused and dry but rich aromas of dark fruit, roasted wood, crushed rocks and wild herb enliven the nose, while the palate is weighty yet expertly tense. Flavors of dried red fruit, peppery spice and milk chocolate float into the finish.

The vineyard is in the area of Pachino and NeroSanlorè is made from grapes grown on albarello-trained vines that are 40-45 years old and the wine ages in wood barrels longer than the NeroJbleo. This 2009 has a rich aroma, fatter that its ‘brother’, more balsamic and brackish. The flavor is consistent with the bouquet, the tannins are slightly sweet and the acidity good.

Nose: The Gallina de Piel Mazape offers an enticing aroma of ripe red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, accompanied by hints of floral notes and a touch of spice.

Taste: On the palate, this wine showcases a vibrant and juicy character, with flavors of red berries and plums taking center stage. There is a subtle earthiness that adds depth, while the well-integrated tannins provide a smooth and velvety texture.

Palate: The wine's medium body and balanced acidity contribute to a refreshing and lively mouthfeel. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lingering impression of red fruit flavors and a touch of spice.

The nose on Feudo Montoni's Vrucara Nero d'Avola opens like an old book—leathery and dusty—with dried flowers and then peppery herbs. Cherries, strawberries, vanilla and cola come out on the palate, followed by more herbs and pepper notes. Integrated and elegant, with firm tannins and sparkling acid.

Francis Ford Coppola Eleanor Red

From vines with more than 80 years of age, the intensity of the fruit comes through handily. Lusty textures with a strong tannic backbone and broken stones accompany all the ripe, fresh, peppery red fruits. Give this perhaps a decade of age before pulling a cork.

Candied black cherries are accented by hints of tar and anise in this smoky, black-fruited Pinot Noir. It's ripe but elegantly muted by shades of earth and rose-petal perfume. Moderately full in body and zesty on the midpalate. Anna Lee C. Iijima

This wine is still young and firm with concentrated tannins as well as perfumed berry flavors. Its texture and dry core show the ripe fruits and the touches of wood aging that come through gently. Roger Voss

Cherries, plums, licorice, 5 Spice, and white pepper permeate the nose and palate of this ripe, concentrated, full-bodied, intense wine. Another year or two in the cellar should add a bit more roundness to the wine. The wine is produced from old vine Mourvedre that is close to 100 years of age!

Deep ruby core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate herbal aromas are supported by dark berries, some sea buckthorn and hints of orange zest. Very juicy concentrated palate with sweet strawberries, finely woven tannins and a fresh mineral finish with nutty hints.

Nose: The Cave Yves Cuilleron Cornas Le Village offers an enticing bouquet of dark fruits, including blackberries and plums, with hints of black pepper and smoked meat. There are also subtle notes of violets and earthiness.

Taste/Palate: On the palate, this wine is full-bodied and rich, with a velvety texture. The flavors of ripe black fruits dominate, accompanied by savory notes of bacon, black olives, and a touch of licorice. The tannins are well-integrated, providing structure and balance, while the acidity adds freshness. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a pleasant impression of dark chocolate and spices.

Smoky and rocky on the nose, this wine offers juicy red and black fruit that turns almost candied red apple on the palate. Notes of coffee grinds and top soil are pointed up by the astringency of very tight tannins and razor-sharp acid.

Ca' La Bionda Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG

The nose is intensely spicy and warm with chili pepper and highlighting an umami meatiness. Cherries, blackberries and chocolate on the palate nonetheless give way again to pepper notes, from fresh cracked black peppercorns to chilis, through a hot finish.

This delicious reserva is garnet-ruby in the glass, with a violet-colored rim. It has enticing aromas of ripe cherry, red plum and saddle leather. In the mouth, there are flavors of ripe red and black fruits, dried sage and thyme, pencil lead and cedar shavings. The tannins are velvety, the mouthfeel is voluptuous, and the finish goes on for days.

This vineyard designate has distinctive and palate-penetrating pine needle accents. It's tight and focused, mixing cranberry and tart raspberry fruit with a light suggestion of truffly umami. The balance and complexity argue for further bottle age. It wraps up with well-ripened tannins that add touches of black olive and black tea. Paul Gregutt

The aromas bring notes of fruit leather, cherry and wood spice. Smooth, medium-bodied dark-fruit flavors follow, with a tart finish. It all seems a bit dried out. Sean P. Sullivan

Ashes & Diamonds Rouge is an expressive and vibrant red wine that captures the essence of Napa Valley's terroir and winemaking tradition. Crafted with a blend of Bordeaux grape varieties, it reflects the estate's commitment to balance, finesse, and elegance. This wine likely showcases a deep ruby color and an aromatic bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and plum, complemented by hints of cedar, tobacco, and earthiness. On the palate, it offers a rich and velvety texture, with flavors of dark fruit, vanilla, and baking spices, supported by refined tannins and a refreshing acidity. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lingering impression of fruit and spice. Ashes & Diamonds Rouge is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes, from grilled meats to hearty pasta dishes, and is sure to impress with its depth and complexity.

Medium deep garnet colour. Ripe yet fresh fruit with plum, wild berries, garrigue, tobacco and mild oak notes. The palate is medium bodied, warm and generous fruit, yet fresh and digest with ripe tannin, balanced oak and a long finish with generous spiciness.

Medium golden yellow, silver reflections. Nuances of yellow apple, delicate pineapple, fine citrus zest, mineral touch. Medium complexity, white fruit, fine acid structure, subtle extract sweetness in the finish, well balanced, already developed and easy to drink, subtle floral honey in the aftertaste.

This wine's nose has an earthy/floral combination equal to a country meadow stroll. Wildflowers, rain-soaked soil and blackberries rise from the glass with an earthy perfume. Blueberry, black cherry and cedar flavors are almost outshone by silky tannins and a nutty shot of Nocino on the long finish.