Tesseron Composition Cognac is an elegant, versatile Fine Champagne blend (Grande & Petite Champagne) from Ugni Blanc grapes, offering a light amber hue with aromas of dry apricot, vine flowers, and subtle spice, leading to a smooth, round palate with fruity complexity and delicate spice, perfect for sipping neat or in cocktails, known for its quality "entry-level" offering from the esteemed Tesseron family.

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a prestigious, age-worthy Italian red, typically from their oldest "Vigna Paganelli" vines, showcasing intense dark cherry, spice, leather, and earthy notes, with powerful yet elegant structure, silky tannins, and a long, complex finish, needing time but rewarding patience with profound depth and balance, often scoring highly with critics.

El Maestro Sierra Fino is a traditional, dry, Palomino-based Sherry from Jerez, known for its intense yeast, nutty (almond, cashew), and briny notes from biological aging under flor for around four years, offering a savory, complex profile with bright acidity, a rich texture, and a lingering salty finish, excellent with seafood, olives, and charcuterie. It's unfiltered, artisanal, and reflects a deep connection to the region's history.

Catena Zapata White Bones Chardonnay is an intense, mineral-driven white from Adrianna Vineyard, known for its unique limestone/fossil soil, offering aromas of citrus, herbs (thyme, dill), ginger, wet stones, and floral notes, with a palate of saline, chalky texture, vibrant acidity, and flavors of lemon, green apple, and white peach, resulting in a complex, age-worthy wine with exceptional focus and minerality, often showing slight flor influence for added complexity.

The Château Monbousquet 2016 Blanc is a vibrant, medium-bodied Bordeaux white wine, known for its aromatic complexity with notes of citrus (lime, grapefruit), stone fruits (peach), tropical hints (pineapple), and floral elements (orange blossom, honeysuckle), offering a rich, zesty palate with a satiny texture, bright acidity, and a long, refreshing finish with hints of minerality or spice. Made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, it's both fresh and concentrated, with excellent aging potential.

The Fanti Brunello di Montalcino Vallocchio is a premium, single-vineyard red wine from Tuscany, known for its complexity, structure, and excellent aging potential. It is produced by the Tenuta Fanti estate from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes, locally known as Brunello.

"Festive Cheer" wine descriptions vary widely, but they often highlight a blend of seasonal flavors, elegant pairings, and a celebratory spirit, including notes of cranberry, citrus, or spice, and sometimes pairing with gourmet gifts like nuts or chocolates. Some descriptions focus on the wine's quality, like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with tropical fruit notes, while others emphasize the celebratory aspect of a sparkling wine or a curated collection from a wine advent calendar. The key is the festive theme, whether through specific flavor profiles or the occasion for which it's sold.

Yoshi no Gawa Hiya-oroshi is an autumn seasonal sake, which means it is brewed in winter, stored cool over the summer, and then "cold-shipped" (the meaning of "hiya-oroshi") to consumers in the fall without a second pasteurization. This process results in a fresh, yet mellow and rich flavor profile, typically with notes of fruit, acidity, and umami, making it ideal for pairing with autumn foods like grilled fish, root vegetables, and mushrooms.

The QUEVEDO PRESTIGE ADVENT PORT 2022 REFILL is a pack containing 24 bottles of 90ml Quevedo port wines, including different vintages and styles like Colheita, Vintage, and White Port, intended for those who have the 2022 Prestige Advent Calendar. The refill pack is designed to replenish the original mahogany cabinet, which is sold separately and contains the original 24 bottles, with a mix of previously released and unique ports, such as a 2022 Vintage Port and a special Garrafeira.

Hacienda López de Haro Classica Blanco is an aged white wine from Rioja Alta made primarily from old-vine Viura grapes, known for its complex and elegant profile. It has a golden color and aromas of citrus, chamomile, dried flowers, and hints of smoke, toasted nuts, and dried fruit. On the palate, it is full-bodied with good acidity, a mineral-driven and fleshy texture, and notes of stone fruit, honey, and spice, with a long, lingering finish.

The Brave New Spirits Craigellachie 9 Year is a limited-edition Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in 2015 and finished for a transformative period in a first-fill Château Larose-Trintaudon red wine barrique. It is known for a creamy mouthfeel with flavors of red fruit compote, candied cherries, stewed plums, oak spice, and fruity sweetness, followed by a long finish where the fruits continue to develop. The high-strength, 48.1% ABV, bottling is part of Brave New Spirits' Cask Masters collection, with only 330 bottles released worldwide.

The Charles Mignon Comte de Marne Grand Cru Brut Champagne is a high-quality, complex Champagne known for its balance of fruit, richness, and elegance. It has a golden color with fine bubbles, and its aromas include notes of ripe apple, citrus, toasted brioche, and nuts. The flavor profile features a harmonious balance of crisp fruit, creamy textures, and a long, mineral-driven finish.

Briones Abad Cantamuda Roble is a 100% Tempranillo wine from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain, characterized by its cherry-red color, and aromas of ripe black and red fruits, with notes of vanilla, toffee, and coffee from its oak aging. The wine is described as rich, balanced, and smooth, with a long, persistent finish from its mature tannins and aging in French oak barrels.

Blend: 65% Malbec, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2025–2035

Tasting Note:
"Deep garnet with a violet rim. The nose is opulent and expressive, revealing aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla, and freshly ground coffee, interwoven with ripe blackberries, wild blueberries, and a hint of sloe. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins and a balanced freshness. The finish is long and spicy, leaving a lasting impression of dark fruit and subtle oak nuances."

"Le Plus de La Fleur de Boüard" is a rich, full-bodied red wine from Lalande-de-Pomerol that is 100% Merlot, made from the estate's oldest vines. It is known for its aromatic complexity, remarkable elegance, and powerful structure, with a lengthy aging process in new French oak barrels. Key tasting notes include cassis, black cherry, and hints of chocolate, smoke, and truffle, balanced by a fresh, vibrant acidity and a persistent finish.

The Bedford Park Bunnahabhain is a specific bottler's selection of a Staoisha single malt from the Bunnahabhain distillery, known for its peated, dark, and chocolatey character with notes of dark fruits, coffee, and a distinct earthy pungency. This 11-year-old expression, distilled in 2013, was finished in a tawny port barrique, contributing to its rich, sweet, and fruity profile at a high cask strength of 62.3% ABV.

Domaine A.F. Gros Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a structured, vibrant, and elegant Pinot Noir from France's Burgundy region, characterized by red fruit notes like strawberry, raspberry, and cherry, complemented by earthy, spicy, and subtle vanilla or woody oak nuances. It offers a harmonious balance of fruit-forward character and refined, silky tannins, with a fresh, clean finish and good aging potential. The wine is made from grapes grown in high-quality appellations and is aged in French oak barrels, with a percentage of new oak used to add complexity and soften tannins.

The AF Gros Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Blanc is a fresh, mineral-driven Chardonnay from elevated limestone-rich vineyards near Arcenant, characterized by aromas of green apple, citrus, and white flowers, with a crisp, clean palate and a chalky, well-balanced finish. It is known for its lively acidity and youthful character, offering a bright, approachable expression of its terroir.

Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2058

95 Points - Robert Parker
"The 2021 Château Margaux saw a traditional élevage in new barrels, with bottling in July, and as readers will remember, it's a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that benefited from late picking, appreciable percentages of saignée, and a strict selection. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, blueberries and raspberries mingled with hints of licorice, white flowers and charcoal, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a broad attack, lively purity and sweet structuring tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. It's a classic that will richly reward bottle age."

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2050

96 Points - James Suckling
"This wine has a tightness and linear energy, with red currants, herbs, plums and hints of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with beautiful integration and length. Racy and focused. Just the right amount of wood and fruit with tannins. Second wine of Chateau Margaux."

Blend: 67% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2050

98 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2021 Vieux Château Certan is a spectacular tour de force from Alexander and Guillaume Thienpont. What a wine. Vibrant and magnificent in its precision, the 2021 races across the palate, revealing seemingly endless layers of nuance over time. Dark blue/purplish fruit, cinnamon, new leather, graphite, lavender and crushed rocks all build effortlessly. The Cabernets are dialed up in 2021 and that comes through in the wine's flavor profile and overall feel. The purity of the flavors is just mind-bending. Harvest took place between September 25 and October 4. The blend is 67% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Readers who can find the 2021 should not hesitate, as it is truly magical. Score

Blend: Cabernet sauvignon 86%, merlot 9%, cabernet franc 3% and petit verdot 2%
Drinking Window: 2012-2055

100 Points - Robert Parker
"The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational effort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estate's great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage - make no mistake about that."

Ceretto Dolcetto d'Alba Rossana is a dry, organic red wine from Piedmont, Italy, made from 100% Dolcetto grapes. It is characterized by its bright ruby color, and aromas of red fruits (especially cherry), violets, and hints of spice and almonds. On the palate, the wine is juicy, fresh, and balanced with a pleasant, persistent finish, making it a versatile companion for light appetizers, pasta dishes, and young cheeses.

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.”

Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carmenère and 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2042

93 Points - James Suckling
“Violets, cassis, ripe black cherries, and graphite all emerge from the 2022 Pastourelle De Clerc Milon, a ripe, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and lively second wine that has tons to love. As with the Grand Vin, it's undeniably one of the best examples of this cuvée to date. It will keep for two decades if well stored."

Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2065

96 Points - James Suckling
“So much Pauillac character with lead pencil, currants and red fruit. Orange peel and slightly burnt oranges. Medium-bodied, this has creamy and crunchy tannins as well as dried citrus and a flavorful finish. Lovely drive to this exquisite, energetic wine. Drink after 2028.”

Blend: 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2065

99 Points - James Suckling
“Unique structure to this wine and very Cos with all the spices and dark fruits. Tobacco and cedar. It's starts off full-bodied and flavorful, but continues to unfold in an energetic and weightless way. Savory and primary. Al dente grapes here. Exciting and thought-provoking.”

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: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2060

96 Points - Wine Advocate
“A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 La Gaffelière derives exclusively from the prime hillside vineyards below Ausone that made this estate so compelling in the early and mid-twentieth century, and the 2022 is the finest wine produced at this address in many a year, surpassing the 2019 and 2020 in quality. Wafting from the glass with incipiently complex aromas of wild berries, violets, lilac, licorice, vine smoke and raw cocoa, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with a deep, multidimensional and beautifully vibrant core of fruit and polished tannins, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish.”

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (86%) with 12% Merlot and only 2% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2066

96 Points - Jane Anson
“Continuing a run of exceptional vintages where everything seems to be going right at this property. High Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, and it comes across in the sleek black fruits and peony character, very much floral and finessed. Good stuff, this is impressive, enjoyable, very St Julien and very good. 50% new oak for ageing, Eric Boissenot consultant, Mathieu Bordes director since 2013."

Blend: 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2050

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“One of the more muscular, concentrated 2022s in my tastings, the 2022 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep ruby/plum hue to go with serious aromatics of ripe red and black cherries, smoked tobacco, new leather, truffle, and an incredible sense of crushed stone-like minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and massively concentrated on the palate, this intense, flawlessly balanced, voluptuous 2022 has a stacked mid-palate, velvety tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. I wouldn't be surprised to see this close down with 3-4 years of bottle age only to re-emerge after a decade. Based on 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc raised in 40% new oak, this modern-day legend has a terrific pH of 3.48 and an alcohol of 14.8%. 2037 - 2077”

Blend: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2065

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Château Lascombes pulls from 40% of the total production and was aged 18 months mostly in barrels (60% new) with a small portion in foudre. This inky hued beauty boasts a rich, concentrated, full-bodied, well-oaked style as well as pure cassis and darker berry fruits, some graphite, scorched earth, and licorice nuances, terrific overall balance, and a great finish”

Blend: 44.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45.5%Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2060

99 Points - James Suckling
“A scented, fresh and polished Clos du Marquis that shows tension. Medium- to full-bodied, this has blueberries and red berries with attractive minerality. A hint of pencil shavings as well. The tannins are fresh and really chalky and dissolved. 45.5% merlot, 44.5% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc. Superb balance makes it pure, almost a bit ethereal and already inviting, but this should be approached after 2028."

Blend: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2036 - 2066

98 Points - James Suckling
“A terrific Lynch from a hot vintage with blackcurrants, mint, dried lavender, graphite and thyme on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, it shows fantastic tannins with a lovely texture that reminds me of cashmere, becoming slightly chewy in the finish. Give this four to five years of bottle age. Try after 2028.”

Blend: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2060

96 Points - James Suckling
“A plush and opulent Pavillon Rouge with plums, boysenberries and hints of cedar and chocolate. Full-bodied, this has lovely powdery tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Juicy and delicious, it's so attractive now that it’s hard not to drink. Second wine of Chateau Margaux. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 7% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc. Best after 2028."

Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon with no Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2060

100 Points - Wine Advocate
“The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has turned out even better in bottle than I anticipated, bursting from the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with scents of licorice, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's suave, seamless and complete, with faultless precision, pristine integration of tannin, controlled sweetness and a long, expansive finish. The 2022 manages to unite the sensuality that's the estate's calling card and the ripeness of the vintage on the one hand, with a sense of Pauillac classicism on the other, threading the needle to deliver one of the finest wines of the vintage and a benchmark Pichon Comtesse. It's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in barriques (three months more than was formerly the case), two-thirds of which were new. As I wrote en primeur, there's more than a hint of the 1982 about this wine, and like the 1982, the 2022 will offer an exceptionally wide drinking window. 2030 - 2055"

Blend: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2025-2050

95 Points - James Suckling
“The al dente fruit is so attractive with blackcurrants, dark plums and orange peel. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with tannins that start slowly, building at the end to a crescendo of intensity and power. It’s muscular and chewy but not overdone. A great second wine of Pichon Lalande. Needs time to soften and come together. Best after 2029."

Blend: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2027 - 2066

99 Points - The Wine Independent
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Rauzan-Segla is made from 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, aging for 18 months in French oak, 50% of it new. A little swirling unleashes an explosion of black and red currant jelly, wild blueberries, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of violets, underbrush, and crushed rocks with a touch of star anise. The full-bodied palate is built like a brick house and crafted like a Chanel suit, with a firm backbone of super-ripe, grainy tannins and impressive tension supporting a gorgeous array of floral, spice, and black fruit layers, finishing very long and with impeccable grace. pH 3.7."

Blend: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2066

100 Points - Decanter
“Deep and evocative on the nose, bursting with blackcurrants, milk chocolate and a touch of Black Forest gateau wrapped in a sweet, purple floral perfume. The palate is instantly captivating, both silky-smooth and luxuriously thick – like padded silk – cushioned yet structured. Tannins seamlessly support a vibrant mix of red and black berries – redcurrant, cherry, blackcurrant – all interwoven with precision. Broad and powerful, yet it glides effortlessly, with Cabernet’s structure, Merlot’s generosity and a dash of spiced fruit. Underlying minerality and flint-like nuance add complexity. A masterclass in power and precision, perfectly balanced and unmistakably Smith."

Blend: 74% Sauvignon Blanc, 26% Sémillon
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2035

97 Points - James Suckling
“Pretty and rich white peach, pear and apple aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with plenty of fruit and bright acidity. Chalky and stony. Happy to watch.”