Big and rich, with expressive beef and earthy notes to the dark plum and roasted dark cherry flavors, which are backed by firm tannins and acidity. Creamy in the midpalate, with hints of dried green herbs and dark chocolate on the finish.

Not just Barolo, but single vineyard Barolo which makes these wines even more special. The typical flavours of roses and dried cherries is evident in this powerful Nebbiolo and of course these wines will age for decades, into 2040. On the nose, the wine exhibits rich, intense aromas of red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, alongside hints of licorice, tobacco, and leather. On the palate, it is full-bodied with firm tannins, a great structure, and a long, persistent finish. The wine has a complex flavor profile that includes dark berries, plums, and black pepper, with subtle hints of vanilla and spice. The oak aging process adds a layer of complexity and depth to the wine, while the high acidity gives it a vibrant freshness. This is a well-balanced wine that showcases the elegance and power of the Barolo region. It can be enjoyed now or aged for several years to come.

Passopisciaro is a small area (the name of a town) on Mt.Etna's north face on the property of the late Andrea Franchetti. Soils from this active volcano provides resulting wine with a vein of minerality that speaks of the terroir of this prestigious region. Contrada Sciaranuova is located at 850 m.In Sicilian, "sciara nuova" means "new lava flow", deposits from the relatively new lava flow from the 1600s that has turned into thick gravel.The wines produced from this site are bright, aromatic, and have a rich taste of fermented hay and a dusty herbal quality. The wine is structured, yet fresh with a youthful concentration.

The Hospices de Beaune is a prestigious 60ha estate whose wines are auctioned every year in support of charity. This auction has existed since 1859, is the oldest in the world and has 48 cuvees available for donors to have their names printed on it. Albert Bichot has been the leading buyer for 15 years at this world-renowned auction.
Albert Bichot is a five-generation family-owned property having owned land in Burgundy's Cote d'Or since the 1830's. The current owner, Alberic Bichot is respectful of his family's traditions yet entirely focused on the future: converting to organic viticulture, adapting to new markets, increasing exposure to Burgundy wines, and much more. The vineyards now total six estates from Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south.
This white wine is 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in the prestigious Charlemagne vineyard in the village of Aloxe-Corton of Burgundy. The nose is intense with notes of lemon curd, citrus pith, nutmeg and rich, nutty complexity. The palate is mouth-filling with balanced acidity and a spicy, smooth, long finish. This white wine will only get better with age. Pair with cauliflower puree, braised fennel and sea scallops.
Pair well with: Chicken and creamy sauce.
Organic

The CASK 23 combines the signature perfume notes of FAY vineyard with the structure and dark fruit of S.L.V. Fragrant and fresh aromas of red and black currant, black tea, anise and nutmeg fill the nose. The wine has a vibrant mouthfeel with savory and velvety tannins along with blackberry and currant flavors. This is an elegant, flavorful vintage of CASK 23 with integrated oak, refined tannins and a lasting aftertaste.

Consecutive vintage of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This year’s blend consists of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337 from their “Big K” vineyard, and 5% Cabernet Franc from their “Upper Bowl” vineyard. Deep aromatics, piercing and precise, a full rich saturated mouth feel, and a long-lasting multi-layered finish define this exemplary blend. Enjoy now or decades from now.

Pairs well with: Lamb

This is the inaugural release of this wine, very different in style from the Bin 707 Cabernet, coming from a single district and aged in French, not American, oak. The fruit is from two prized blocks of Penfolds' own vineyards, and is aged for 14 months in new French oak hogsheads. At first it is quite closed, but there's a delicate, almost floral and mint leaf edge here, then a rush of cassis begins to fill in. The oak adds a smoky incense note. The palate has a really firm backbone, the tight, powerful tannins framing really juicy fruit that bursts onto the mid-palate with sweet blackcurrant. Savoury and fresh on the finish, this is concentrated but long and elegant too.

95 points Vinous: "The 2016 Lagrange has a tightly knit, focused bouquet of intense blackberry, briar and cedar aromas. This is impressive, and it gains intensity with aeration. The medium-bodied palate delivers grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a vivacious, spicy, almost peppery finish. One of the most powerful Lagrange that I have tasted. A Saint-Julien that is consistently underrated, this 2016 will give a great deal of pleasure over the next 30-plus years. (NM)" (1/2019)

The 2014 L'Evangile comes racing out of the blocks on the nose with plenty of black cherry, blueberry, cold stone and black truffle scents, quintessentially Pomerol with impressive delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy texture, lovely black fruit here laced with Earl Grey, spice and sage, quite intense and fanning out gloriously towards the long finish. This seems to have gained precision after bottling and I did warn that it may merit a higher score. This is a deeply impressive L'Evangile that might challenge Lafite-Rothschild in the long term. Chapeau!

97 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: " Blended of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 la Fleur-Petrus reveals stunning Black Forest cake, redcurrant jelly and wilted roses scents with underlying suggestions of pencil shavings, yeast extract, dark chocolate and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the mid-palate possesses superb intensity and depth with layers of perfumed black fruits and loads of red fruit sparks framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing on a lingering earthy note. (LPB)" (11/2018)

99 points - James Suckling

Super perfumed, attractive violets with a thread of fresh blueberries, cassis, blackberries and dark plums, delivering a very enticing impression. Beautiful ripeness here. The tannins are perfectly ripe and layers meld into each other, carrying deep, graceful and plush, velvety dark fruit long into the vibrant and seductive, chocolate-laced finish. Great potential. Try from 2024.

In a deep crimson hue, this wine exudes lifted aromas of fresh dark chocolate, mocha, dark cherry, blackberry, and panforte, accompanied by subtle notes of liquorice and aniseed. On the palate, it offers a superb balance with abundant dark chocolate and blackberry fruits, supported by firm graphite tannins and a rich mid-palate. Well-integrated mocha and espresso oak notes add depth, leading to a long, chocolaty finish. This expressive wine showcases fruit complexity, oak integration, and density, making it a brilliant successor to the esteemed 2018 vintage. Comprising 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was matured for 19 months in 100% new American Hogsheads across Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and Clare Valley. Best enjoyed from 2028 to 2060.

Ripe and fresh black fruits and plum predominate with chocolate notes and hints of tobacco leaf. It has a mineral character that highlights the smell of the earth, mixed with aromas of aromatic plants. Voluminous, full, and broad with very fine and noble tannins.

Lovely dark garnet color with a beautiful shine. Good aromatic intensity. The nose is very fresh with notes of small red and black fruits on a mineral and smoky background (marl limestone). Well delineated, fresh and fruity on the palate. Good structure and balance, the tannins are present but fine. Persistent finish ending on the fruitiness and mineral freshness.

Perhaps one of the most popular California Chardonnays, the 'Proprietors Select' is only made in exceptional vintages, and blending the best barrels from the finest lots. Carneros region in Napa Valley offers ideal growing conditions for the grape variety. This is gorgeous Rombauer with intense and expressive flavours of peach, clove and freshly baked pastries. The acidity is bright and refreshing and the finish is long and concentrated. The perfect pairing to Fettucine Alfredo and corn chowder soup.

Passopisciaro is a small area (the name of a town) on Mt.Etna's north face on the property of the late Andrea Franchetti. Soils from this active volcano provides resulting wine with a vein of minerality that speaks of the terroir of this prestigious region. The Chiappemacine is the lowest site (in altitude) which produces a rounder, more full-bodied style of Nerello Mascalese with aromas and flavours of crushed raspberries, wild strawberries, cinnamon, and star anise.

Although 2017 was not a vintage for the ages, excellent winemakers will still create beautiful wines from hand selected grapes. Jessica Pellegrini is a minimalist, using indigenous yeast and "hands-off" winemaking. Like the 2015, it is true to the Sangiovese variety with an expressive nose of cherry, fresh Italian herbs, and tomato leaf. Serve with tomato based pasta dishes like Bolognese or Lasagne.

100% Verdicchio. Intense, complex, persistent bouquet of apricot compote and spice; full body, exceptional, layered richness. The structure and concentration of a red wine, it should not be served too cold, and is best with a little time for decanting before consumed.

This classic Cabernet Sauvignon fills the glass with vivid aromas of blackberry, black cherry, warm earth, and baking spice. The flavors richly echo the wine's aromas, adding juicy layers of summer briar fruit, berry compote, cinnamon, lively red and black plums, and mocha with a long, radiant finish.

98 points -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Pavie Decesse bursts boldly out of the glass with confident blackcurrant preserves, baked blackberries, baked plums and sandalwood notes with touches of Indian spices, mocha and lilacs plus touches of cedar chest and pencil lead. Big, concentrated and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it has a truly impressive structure of very firm, finely grained tannins and racy freshness lifting all that densely packed fruit to a very long, multilayered finish. Wow! (LPB)" (3/2019)

99 points - James Suckling

94 points - Wine Spectator

Chateau Leoville-Barton (Saint Julien)- this wine is massive and powerful with the bulk of this coming from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc providing the lift. It has a solid core of cassis, blueberry compote, sweet oak and plum flavours wrapped with licorice and pencil lead. Muscular, yet lean, drink from 2025-2035. 

Chateau Gazin is a high quality winery located in the Pomerol AOC on the right bank of Bordeaux, representing five generations of owners and growers. With 23ha of vineyards, the clay-gravel plateau is perfect for merlot and cabernet franc. The 2019 is a blend of 89% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 4% cabernet franc. A solid Pomerol that has spicy red and black cherry fruit, notes of cedar, violets and plum with a vull-bodied, velvety and textural palate. This will no doubt age incredibly over the long haul!

Winemaker Notes

A wine of good density ruby red, with brown, mahogany, biscuit hints. The rim is fairly thick and the legs are fine, clear, abundant and regular. At once expressive, forthright and complex. There are notes of all families of fragrance: fruit, flowers, and spices. The attack is forthright, round and suave, soothing even. The intense aromas initially recall the complexity of the nose. There is leather and lightly charred wood, and roasted notes. The beauty of the wine is revealed by its elegance rather than its full-flavor. The wine has an attractive aromatic range with a finish of remarkable elegance.

The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot aging for an estimated 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. The production of the grand vin represents 48% of the harvest this year. Opaque purple-black in colour, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notions of blackberry pie, preserved plums and crème de cassis, plus suggestions of Chinese five spice, chocolate mint, graphite and cedar chest with a touch of violets. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy.

Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2032–2050

A true classic in the making, Montrose 2024 is firm, precise, and deeply layered, highlighting its record-setting proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. Vivid cassis, cigar wrapper, and mineral notes meet refined tannins and remarkable length.

97 Points - James Suckling
"This shows finesse and elegance as well as plenty of subtle red currant and blackcurrant character. Medium-bodied with refinement and length. Tender, vivid and pure. Extremely well done in a difficult year."

"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

Blend: 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2032 - 2066

100 Points - Wine Advocate
“The 2022 Léoville Las Cases is just as remarkable in bottle as it was from barrel. Wafting from the glass with aromas of beautifully pure cassis fruit mingled with notions of violets, burning embers and subtle cigar box, it has already almost entirely integrated its new oak. Full-bodied, dense and layered, it's deep and resonant, with striking concentration, precision and harmony, concluding with a long, palate-staining finish. This striking Saint-Julien really is one of the wines of the vintage, and the best young Léoville Las Cases I've ever tasted. 2035 - 2065"

Blend: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2020-2052

95 Points - Robert Parker
"The 2010 Pichon Lalande is performing extremely well and at the top of the range I predicted several years ago. A final blend dominated much more by Cabernet Sauvignon than usual (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot), the wine is a tighter, more tannic and structured version of this famed Pauillac, which often tends to have more of a St-Julien-like personality than most Pauillacs. Structured, backward and tannic, yet showing a fat mid-palate that is more savory, broader and more expansive than I remember from barrel, this wine is somewhat reminiscent of the 1986, given the Cabernet Sauvignon domination of the blend. Full-bodied, impressively endowed, and less sexy and velvety than normal, this is a somewhat different style of Pichon Lalande than most readers have been used to. Whether you like it more or less will depend on your point of view, but this wine, unlike most Pichon Lalandes, needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for 30+ years."

Blend: 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc
Drinking Window: 2018 - 2078

99 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2016 Château d’Yquem is a magnificent wine with extraordinary richness and purity. Aromas of ripe apricot, mango, honey, and citrus peel lead to a concentrated palate that is dense yet vibrant, layered with exotic fruit, toasted nuts, and hints of spice. The wine boasts a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, showcasing remarkable freshness and elegance. The finish is incredibly long and complex, with an intense minerality that highlights the terroir. This wine is built for long-term cellaring and will evolve beautifully for many decades."

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2029-2055

98 Points - James Suckling
"Really impressive depth, concentration and perfume this year, with fine tannins. Lots of violets, red flowers, black cherries and currants. Full-bodied and seriously structured, with impeccable freshness and a very long finish. Dense and powerful for the vintage, with tension, vibrations, good concentration and a tannin framework."

A deep, dark, opaque, glass-staining wine. Restrained, composed & perfumed on the nose with black fruits, cedar, raspberries, blackberries and violets. The palate is very concentrated & extremely refined. Its fine grained tannins are tightly knit, powerful & muscular but in harmony. An outstanding wine.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider: "It was a close call picking a favorite here between LMHBB and HBB, but, perhaps the La Mission has just a bit more going here. The perfume is packed with honeysuckle, lemon rind, pomelo, white peaches and herbs, with a touch of spice cover all the bases. Full-bodied, rich, fleshy and deep, the wine fills your palate with wall of ripe, yellow and orange citrus, crushed rocks, mango and a dab of honey, with ample acidity to keep everything up-beat and fresh. Drink from 2025-2040." 97 Points

"This perfumed wine shines with black fruits. Against this, the wine's tannins are solid and firm, promising long-term aging. The wine's structure—black fruits against tannins—is a classic for this estate. Drink from 2024. Roger Voss" - 96/100, Wine Enthusiast

Rich and dramatic, the 2019 Valandraud bursts with aromas of berry fruit, plums and licorice, framed by a lavish but far from exaggerated application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy and sensual, it's broad and enveloping, its lavish core of fruit framed by ripe, polished tannins and succulent balancing acids.

A fleshy cuirassier with notes of licorice, spices, and dark fruits. Cherry, currant, and blueberry blend harmoniously, creating a velvety and sweetly ripe taste with splendidly integrated tannins. San Rocco exudes great power and austerity, with an incredible aging potential. A pure complexity and strong character, this wine is monumental.

Château des Quarts was created in 2012 through a joint partnership between two old friends, Dominique Lafon and Olivier Merlin.

For over a decade, Olivier had tasked himself with sourcing and making wine from the best sites within Pouilly-Fuissé and bottling them under his own label. After buying grapes from Clos des Quarts for several vintages, he was first approached with the news that it was for sale. Having been already convinced of the terroir's integrity he jumped on the opportunity.

The vineyard is located in Chaintré, the southernmost village of Pouilly-Fuissé. At just over 2 hectares, the oldest vines are almost a century old and are planted on clay-limestone soils.

Pairs well with: Grilled chicken, Summer salad and Turkey

Take Ancestor Vines (planted in 1894), a great vintage, experienced winemaking. Add 30 months of aging in American and French oak, resulting in the stunning 2018 Command Single Vineyard Shiraz. Boasting fabulous density and concentration, this full-bodied effort is still almost embryonic in its development, with tarry, mocha, yet lifted notes accenting intense blackberry fruit; a rich, supple yet structured mouthfeel, and a long, mouthwatering finish. Once it hits its stride in a few years, it should drink well for 20 years or more.

Pairs well with: Beef & Venison

Sangiovese, aka Brunello is grown all over Italy, but most prevalent in Tuscany. Valdicava wine estate produces some of the highest quality wines in the world by showing different expressions of this opulent grape variety. Located in the valley of Montosoli, to the north of Montalcino, the winery only produces two wines: a Rosso and Brunello, with the single vineyard, Madonna del Piano only produced in the very best vintages. This 2016 has attractive aromas of cherry nib, violet, tomato leaf, walnut, and orange rind. Full bodied with dusty tannins and a long, linear finish.