The nose is spicy and peppery with intense aromas of blackberry, dried fig, cigar box, leather, vanilla, and meat, accented by subtle violet notes. The palate is dry and full-bodied with crisp acidity and firm, ripe tannins. It presents a complex mix of paprika, black plum, sundried tomato, blueberry, and leather, leading to a savoury dried sage finish. This wine has lots of character now and will soften over the next 2-3 years. Enjoy it with a seared piece of beef, ratatouille, and hearty polenta.

Chouchou is the answer to new consumer trends: a soft, light, and fresh wine. It is the ideal alternative to traditional red wine, with a low alcohol content, a drinking temperature as cool as its aromas, and radiant notes reminiscent of a basket of fresh fruit. The grapes for this gourmet cuvée come from the high-altitude terroirs of the Cevennes, where the vineyards create exceptional landscapes. Le Chouchou is the perfect companion for all your social occasions. Enjoy it chilled, with tapas, as an aperitif, or alongside Italian cuisine or a charcuterie board.

Castel Mimi 'AnimAliens' Saperavi (IGP Codru, Moldova) is a powerful, dry red wine blending Georgian Saperavi grapes with Moldovan terroir. It features an intense ruby color, with aromas of dried plums, spices, and a fine texture. It is typically aged, offering a bold, structured palate with notes of black fruits, tobacco, and herbs. 

A perfect summer red, this refreshing, light-bodied wine from Alto-Adige in northern Italy, is made with the indegenous Schiava (group of) grapes. Three grapes in this group, often co-planted can sometimes also be known as Vernatsch. The wine is packed full of bright red cherry, strawberry and sweet almond sensations. Thanks to soft acidity and supple tannins, it's an ideal wine to serve chilled and sip as an apéritif or pair with seafood. Your guests will enjoy this wine for the upcoming spring/summer season. ~mjh

Powerful and rich-tasting, this wine from Joseph Wagner is velvety in texture and spicy in aroma. It drips with jammy, Port-like flavors that are backed by fine-grained tannins that tighten a bit on the finish for a good grip.

The Pinot Noir boasts rich, ripe flavors with a sophisticated aftertaste, making it a surprising standout among red wines produced in Germany. Its warm, berry notes make it perfect for relaxing with a good book by the fireplace, where its light smoky taste complements the scents of a crackling fire. This wine pairs well with wild game, venison, and cedar-plank salmon.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet  is a prestigious, full-bodied Napa Valley red known for its refined structure and notes of dark fruit, cedar, and oak. It offers a silky texture with flavors of blackberry, plum, and spice, typically aged in French oak for 14–15 months. This versatile, age-worthy wine is ideal with grilled meats. 

"Pronounced plum, blackberry, coffee, spice, soft tannins, lingering finish Floral, nice acidity, unique." - Gold, Sunset International Spirits Competition

Renato Ratti Barolo DOCG Marcenasco is a classic expression of the Nebbiolo grape grown in the Barolo subregion of Piedmont, Italy. This wine offers aromas of ripe red fruit, violet, licorice, and tobacco, with a touch of leather and earth. On the palate, it is full-bodied and complex, with fine tannins and a long finish. This wine can be cellared for up to 20 years, but it is also enjoyable now! Pairs well with: a hearty meat dish or aged cheese.

Started more than a century ago two Piemontese, a lawyer (Mosca) and and Engineer (Sella) fell in love with the land and started working the soil and planting vines. Cannonau, aka Garnacha is the most grown red grape in Sardinia. Intense and warm it expresses floral notes of violets and roses, red cherry, red currant and elegant spice notes. The palate is well balanced, fresh with silky tannins and a long finish.

On the nose, vanilla and a burst of sweet ripe cassis. This is Changyu's proposition of a big wine from the Helan Mountain region of Ningxia. Opulent, luscious and of enormous character and body – this wine lifts you with its power. It conjures up a myriad of food pairing ideas, from a juicy steak, confit of duck or a rich ripe cheese. The wine is a statement for the region with its beauty, power of fruit, tannins, taste, style and a long finish. Yet, it also encompasses elements of elegance and finesse.

Chateau Margaux is one of the prestigious first growths, and the only one from the Margaux appellation of the left bank of Bordeaux. In existence since 1500, the Ginestet family acquired the property about 1950, then purchased by the Mentzelopoulos in 1977 who still runs it to this day. The Chateau Margaux red blend is an assemblage of 90% Cabernet Sasuvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. A brilliant Bordeaux according to critics boasting powerful aromas of blackcurrants, sweet tobacco, spices, violets and pencil shavings. The palate is elegant, yet complex and compelling. This vintage scored a perfect 100 points from several critics; one of several vintages of the decade to have scored this high. This will age for decades.

Not sold En Primeur, but this is one of the top values from all of Margaux. Produced in a forward, user friendly style, it's perfect for restaurants and youthful pleasure with its fresh, sweet, red fruits and truffle essences. Medium-bodied and finesse in style, the soft, polished plums in the finish give you just right amount of acidity to give lift and keep it fresh. 89-91

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Domaine De Chevalier 2019 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

The Château d'Armailhac 2019 is a classic, elegant Pauillac Bordeaux, praised for its balance, structure, and vibrant black fruit (cassis, blackberry, cherry) with notes of violets, cedar, spices, tobacco, and graphite, offering a velvety texture, fine tannins, and great aging potential, marking a successful expression of the classic 2019 vintage. 

" I loved the 2016 Château d'Issan and this is a certainly a wine to seek out. Made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot from yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare, aged 18 months in 50% new oak, it has a beautiful perfume of blue fruits (cassis, blueberries, etc.) as well as hints of graphite, subtle oak, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity, a terrific mid-palate, and perfect balance, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to cruise in good cellars for 20-25 years or more. It's a beautiful, elegant, seamless wine that's very much in the style of the vintage." -Jeb Dunnuck (2/2019) 97 points - Decanter

"The 2016 Prieure-Lichine has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and a bold, intensely scented nose of warm blackcurrants, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of cedar chest, tobacco, dried herbs and iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has bags of class with lovely, vibrant black berries flavors and earthy sparks framed by ripe grainy tannins, finishing long and refreshing. (LPB)" (3/2019) -92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94 points - Wine Enthusiast 93 points - James Suckling

Magnus Monte Syrah is a Romanian red wine from the Dealu Mare region that has an intense ruby garnet color, with complex aromas of dark berries (like plum and blackberry), violet, and peppery spice, leading to a velvety, elegant taste with firm tannins and a long finish. Crafted from handpicked Syrah grapes using traditional methods, it pairs well with rice dishes, game stews, and roasted meats.

Crama Ceptura's Astrum Feteasca Neagra is a dry, full-bodied red wine from Romania's Dealu Mare region, featuring flavors of dark fruit (like plum and blackberry), spices, smoke, and vanilla, with a velvety texture and soft tannins. This wine, made from the ancient Romanian Feteasca Neagra grape, is often described as intense, complex, and excellent with rich foods like roasted meats and burgers.

Saperavi' is the Georgian word for 'paint' or 'dye,' which is fitting considering it's also the name of one of the few teinturier (red-fleshed) grapes that you'll commonly find. This lush, off-dry red has flavours of pomegranate and strawberry with hints of forest floor balanced by a brisk acidity and velvety tannins. This product is now sold under the name GEORGIAN VALLEYS

Gigondas legend Louis Barruol purchases grapes from the Gard to produce this 100% Syrah Côtes-du-Rhône bottling. Plump and generous in mouthfeel, it's an undeniably southern, sun-drenched expression of Syrah but with a cutting mineral freshness and salty tang on the finish. Soft tannins and hints of bramble and cut stone rim flavors of rich, ruddy black-cherry and plum preserves. Best enjoyed young.

For the past 150 years Louis Jadot has continued as one of the great names of Burgundy and has gained international reputation for its superb red and white Burgundy wines. Louis Jadot is not only one of the largest producers of estate Burgundies of the Cote d'Or, it is one of the most celebrated exporters of premium Burgundies, owning close to 140 acres of vineyards from 24 of the most prestigious sites in Burgundy.Les Couchereaux vineyard is situated on top of the slope, in the middle of the commune and has a southern exposure of well drained soils. The resulting 100% pinot noir shows ripe fruits of raspberry and cherry, with hints of spice and smoky character. Dense and structured it is rich and warm.

Deep ruby red. Intense aromas of marasca cherry, typical of late varieties, followed by spicy notes of white pepper, black pepper and violet. The mouthfeel is soft, with persistent tannins and pronounced acidity, essential criteria for long aging.

Building off the wild success of Freakshow Cab - the first wine in the Freakshow lineup - we searched near and far to find the following main attraction. Known for taking the road less travelled, we decided an exceptional offering that displays the undeniable brut of Lodi Syrah was just the ticket. Freakshow Red is a mash-up of man meets wild...Syrah’s untamed and mysterious allure is refined and polished with the addition of Petite Sirah. Prepare your eyes and taste buds for a FREAK like no other! TASTING NOTES The man, the myth, the untamed and refined – our Freakshow Red Wine unveils the wild, unruly blend staring our very own man meets beast. Composed of Syrah, Petite Sirah and Souzao, the 2021 act reveals aromas of juicy raspberry, black cherry, butterscotch and toasted baguette. Full-bodied with polished, velvety tannins, flavours of dried plum, crème brulee and toasted oak are carried through a long finish that will have you reaching for more.

A gorgeous expression of Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has aromas of blackberry, marionberry and black cherry. The palate is supple and juicy, with a voluminous texture, black fruit and a complex French oak- inspired spice box note.

Colour: ruby red tending towards garnet with ageing. Bouquet: vinous and delicate with sometimes hints of bitter almonds. Taste: full and velvety flavour.

Mike Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated Paris Tasting of 1976. This historic tasting gave the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich, first place as the finest white wine in the world. After this solid recognition, he started Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford Hills. 2023 marks the 100th birthday of this iconic producer who is a legend in Napa Valley. This Cabernet offers black currant and ripe black cherries, followed by forest floor and bay leaf and vanilla undertones. Bright acidity, and youthful tannins are evident; no doubt this wine has the ability to age.

Negro Amaro, a black grape grown in Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot, is often misspelled: unlike what is seen on many labels, it is two distinct words and should be written that way. Wines made with negro amaro are always dense, thick with blackberry, black cherry, licorice with clove and cocoa accents. Tenuta del Pajaru is Certified organic, using only natural yeasts and non-intervention winemaking, the wines express their sense of place. Get a mouthful of blackberry jam, spice and chocolate, pair this wine with strong cheese and hearty meat stews.

Very pale salmon colour. Fully ripe grapes. Very vinous nose. Masses of fruit and only the merest hint of fermentation aromas. Apparently 1.7 g/l residual sugar but it tastes more. High extract because berries are very small. Real mouthful of charming fruit. Very commercial I would have thought. Designed for the on trade. Mouthful of venosity. Well done!

This wine has reached classic quality. It has all the hallmarks of a traditionalist Rioja, with a touch of funky flair. There’s dried black fruit, tobacco, liquorice root, and herbs, but also lively notes of plum skin, sarsaparilla, cola and fresh, ripe mulberry. This wine is stacked.

Deep garnet in color with rich raspberry, fig, exotic clove spice, and notes of fresh mint. Layered briary fruit on the palate with cocoa and a slight crushed granite minerality. Supple tannins and a long, lingering finish. MB (2/22)

Rooted in the rich heritage of Puglia, the Pajaru estate celebrates the figure of the shepherd, or "Picuraru" in dialect, symbolizing the slow, seasonal, and steadfast labor paralleled in the meticulous care of vineyards to forge exceptional wines. Inspired by the shepherds' resilience and dedication, Primitivo "PICURARU" was born—a majestic deep ruby red wine that unfurls intense aromas of ripe red fruit on the nose, transforming into layered notes of plum, cocoa, leather, and black pepper on the palate. Warm, persistent, and notably tannic, PICURARU matures beautifully, gaining expression over a couple of years. It pairs splendidly with rich legume soups accented with bacon, robust pasta with meat sauce, and aged cheeses, making it a versatile choice for a variety of culinary delights.

"Uplifting aroma of ripe blackberries and black plums, wrapped around by a layer of smoked bacon, sweet spices, cedar and forrest floor. Structured, dense and dry palate with most fruit elements hiding behind the big frame for now. Even at this young age, there is already some degree of balance between acidity and tannins after an hour in the decanter. Not ready to drink now, let it age for 3-5 years and this Margaux will develop gracefully for the next decade." - Wine Enthusiast

"The 2016 Durfort-Vivens is gorgeous. Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics and structure play off the natural intensity of the year beautifully. Blackberry, grilled herbs, licorice, leather and crème de cassis are all vividly sketched in this layered, expressive Margaux. (AG) " --- Vinous (1/2019) 96 points - James Suckling

94 points Decanter: " The construction here is clear in that you can feel the architectural hand of 2016 with St-Julien balance. This is rich and deep with intense, concentrated and juicy cassis fruits joined by a touch of sweet liquorice, dark chocolate and charred oak edging. I like the balance here. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040 (JA)" (10/2018)

The jury is out on this wine from St. Emilion, whether to drink or hold. If you're looking for a Merlot dominant wine, look no further than this blend of 90% with added 10% Cabernet France for structure and concentration. As one would expect, it's soft and fleshy with plum and blackberry fruits, laced with clove, walnut, and black tea. This will still evolve over time but can be enjoyed now.

The Chateau Malescot St. Exupery is a 3rd growth of Margaux that sits right next to Chateau Margaux- one of the 5-first growths of Bordeaux. This exceptional terroir goes all the way back to 1697 when it was owned by the Escousses family. In the 1800's the property was handed to Jean-Baptiste Saint-Exupery enriching the name of the Chateau with HIS name. By June, 1955 the estate had only 7 ha of vines and the Zuger family began to restore the grounds and the castle. 30ha of the property are dedicated to the vines where the varieties of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot are grown. This is one of the most well-priced wines of Bordeaux and always well regarded, garnering high scores from critics. The 2016 vintage is comprised of 55% cabernet, 37% merlot and the 8% balance is cabernet franc and petit verdot. The wine scored high with typical notes of black currant, cedar, earth, tobacco and mocha around a backbone of fine tannins, and fresh acidity with a lengthy finish and great depth of character. Drink now to 2036

"Medium deep ruby red, finely toasted nose with mocha, new oak, tobacco and red berries. The palate is fresh and vibrant with good extract, soft fruit, well rounded and rather long on the finish." - 90/100, Andreas Larsson

Thrilling notes of pure crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, crushed mint, graphite, and crushed rock notes all emerge from this deep, powerful, yet elegant Pauillac. The style of this wine has become more and more finesse-driven and pure, yet it hasn't lost a beat on concentration or length.

Nose of jammy blueberry, red cherry and pepper. Lively acidity and structure give this wine a full mouthfeel with notes of raspberry, mineral and dark chocolate with a lingering finish. SR (11/22)