The 2021 Pichon-Longueville Baron is showing very well in bottle, unwinding in the glass with notes of cassis, sweet berries and violets mingled with subtle hints of orange zest and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with good depth at the core, bright acids and sweet tannins that assert themselves on the gently structured finish, its serious, slightly reserved profile reflects the unusually high (89%) percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2021 concluded its élevage in large wooden vats for a month and a half, saw a touch less racking than normal, and was only fined with a small amount of gelatin, not egg white, as has been the rule at this address for several years now. Drink 2030-2060.

The 2021 Gruaud Larose has turned out very nicely in bottle, unfurling in the glass with aromas of sweet wild berries, plums, violets and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and velvety, it's polished and seamless, with good depth at the core, supple tannins and lively acids. Drink 2025-2045.

The 2021 Duhart-Milon has turned out beautifully, offering up incipiently complex aromas of dark berries and cassis mingled with notions of orange zest, burning embers, pencil lead and iris. Medium to full-bodied, suave and polished, with a layered core of fruit, supple tannins and a long, sapid finish, it will offer a broad drinking window. Drink Date: 2027 - 2045

The 2021 d'Armailhac has turned out beautifully, bursting with attractive aromas of minty cassis and blackberries mingled with notions of pencil shavings and sweet pipe tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, ample and polished, it's supple and seamless, with a fleshy core of fruit and a licorice-inflected finish. En primeur, I compared this to a modern-day version of the estate's immensely charming 1999, and anyone who remembers the 1999 will find that the 2021 delivers just as wide a drinking window. Drink 2026-2041.

The wine has perfumed Cabernet Franc aromas with violet, spice and touches of black-fruit tannins. Smoky with tannins, a serious, dense structure and succulent richness, the wine is powerful, impressively rich, ready to drink from 2028.

Lirac Charles I, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, is sourced from both the estate's vineyards and selected terroirs. It has a bright ruby color and a lively aromatic profile with notes of raspberries, currants, black cherries, licorice, and spices. On the palate, it is fruity and full-bodied, with firm yet well-integrated tannins and a long, mineral-infused finish. This wine pairs well with game birds or grilled red meat and, while ready to drink now, it can evolve beautifully with a few years of cellaring.

The Aldegheri family has been in operation since 1956. Love for nature and extreme attention to the vineyards whilst keeping to traditions of the regions, yet not afraid to use modern technology, the family strives to improve day after day. Now in the 2 nd generation, they are proving to be around for a very long time to come. The Pietramara follows all the same principles of Amarone, yet at a fraction of the price.

This wine presents marked aromas of cherry and marasca cherry, which stand out in its complex bouquet, creating a pleasurable first impact. This is followed by the perfect harmony of its full, robust body. While the color, bouquet, and intensity of flavor suggest a wine suitable for aging, its fruitiness, roundness, and overall harmony make it highly enjoyable for immediate drinking as well.

Made entirely from Grenache, this lively rosé promises to add vibrancy to your table. It offers a complex palate featuring peach, apple, strawberry, tropical fruit, and savoury herb notes, all balanced by a crisp and elegant mouthfeel. This poised and generous wine pairs beautifully with Tuscan-style grilled trout, showcasing its buoyancy and balance.

Celler Mas D'En Peri Garnatxa

"Two rows per terrace, licorice soils, vines formed with a single arm and a very unproductive rootstock, make up my landscape and my life.

Mas d’en Perí is a farmhouse dating from the middle of the s. XIX The previous owner made wines on the farm, and there are still some remains of the old cellar at the Mas. My family acquired it at the end of the 50s and I am the third generation to work the land but the first to venture into making wine.

17 ha make up the farm but at the moment there are only 4 planted. 15 years ago, my father decided to plant Grenache and Carignan. Now with the growth of the project, I have decided to plant 3 ha more of white varieties and a little more Grenache.

I follow a sustainable line and work with the intention of making wines with minimal intervention." - Mas d’en Perí

This wine's elegance and balance were a pleasant surprise, given the warm vintage. The nose starts with chocolate-wrapped berries and dates. Smooth on the palate, this savoury blend is made with 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet and 10% Syrah. It has plenty of red- and black-fruit flavors followed by dates, cumin, thyme and integrated notes of baking spices. Good acidity elevates the experience.

Forward, medium bodied, bright, almost tangy -- red fruits. For complexity you find thyme, earth and coffee bean nuances. You should drink this in its youth. 87 Points

The 2007 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is a superb Italian red wine that epitomizes the excellence of the Montepulciano region. This wine is crafted predominantly from Sangiovese grapes, with a small percentage of complementary varietals. It likely displays a deep garnet color with brick-red highlights, indicating its maturity. On the nose, expect aromas of ripe dark fruits, such as black cherry and plum, mingled with hints of dried herbs, tobacco, and leather, characteristic of well-aged Sangiovese. On the palate, it offers a full-bodied and velvety texture, with flavors mirroring the bouquet, accompanied by notes of baking spices and a subtle earthiness. The tannins are likely well-integrated, providing structure and balance to the wine, while the acidity adds freshness and vibrancy. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a satisfying impression of fruit and spice. This Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a testament to Carpineto's commitment to quality winemaking and is an excellent choice for pairing with hearty dishes such as roasted meats or aged cheeses.

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

Francis Ford Coppola Eleanor Red

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

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.

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

Black in the glass and dense with aromas of cooked blueberry, vanilla, maple syrup, brown sugar, tar, fudge and fresh purple flowers, this wine takes ripeness and concentration to impressive heights. Lavish on the palate with sticky, grippy tannins, the flavors of blueberry fudge, cola, black pepper and lavender are bold and delicious.

Smells a bit musty and earthy, with hints of mint and a whiff of cherries. The texture is lovely, just what you want in a Sonoma Pinot: silky, soft and seductive. If only there were more going on with the flavors besides oak.

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

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.

This wine is jammy, packed with blackberry fruits and sweetness. It also has intense acidity that shines through all the tannins to give a lighter edge. Drink from 2030. Roger Voss

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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!

The generous palate of this full-bodied wine is enjoyable now, with notes of fresh figs, raspberries, plums, wild berries, thyme and violets. Grown on cooler parcels, this Grenache is pure and elegant.

Ca' La Bionda Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG

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.

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

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.

Valdemar Estates Syrah opens with enticing aromas of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, and a hint of black pepper. Subtle notes of smoked meat and dried herbs add complexity to the bouquet. On the palate, the wine showcases a rich and velvety texture, with flavors of blackberry jam, plum, and blueberries. The wine is well-balanced, with integrated tannins and a touch of oak that provides structure and depth. Overall, this Syrah is a beautifully crafted wine that combines fruit-forward characteristics with elegance and complexity.

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.

Forward, medium-bodied, soft, elegant and already charming, the sweetness and purity along with lift and energy create the perfect backdrop for the plums, licorice, smoke, cherries and spice on the nose and palate.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon/ Shiraz/Petit Verdot, the wine has a rich brambly nose. Ripe dark forest fruit with a smoky richness.

From a vineyard in Coonawarra purchased by the Hill-Smiths in 1992, on terra rossa soils, the majority of the vineyard was planted in 1975. The wine matured for 22 months in barrels, 30% new French oak hogsheads, the remainder in older barrels from France, America and Hungary. Almost black in its saturated colour, fruit straddles blackberry, blueberry and damson plum, with a sheen of polished old wooden furniture, gigar smoke and again a firmness suggested by gravel and graphite. Sumptuously sweet and succulent in the mouth, and enveloping richness and depth of glossy black fruit lies over mocha and sweet smokiness, tannins so sandy and fine and acidity pert like cherry pits. It's big, it's classic, it's a wonderfully expressive wine of grape and place.