Cool and elegant, yet juicy and wonderfully fresh, this medium-bodied gruner vetliner has the garden herb and celery aromas of the grape. As lightly as this skips over the palate, and as crisp as it is in the finish, there's very good substance here. It should stay fresh for quite a few years. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold [through the end of the decade+]. Score - 93. (Stuart Pigott, jamessuckling.com, Sept. 12, 2024)
This is immediately appealing on the nose with green rockmelon, Gala apple, feijoa and lime zest aromas. The palate offers excellent vibrancy and juicy fruit intensity, splendidly supported by bright acidity, making it flavoursome and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2027. Score - 93. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Nov. 2024)
From the family that crafts the iconic Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Christins is always perfumed and appealing, capturing the vitality and intensity of Vacqueyras without sacrificing balance or approachability. It's a ripe, juicy wine, with mixed dark fruit, cherry, garrigue, spice, and a long finish. This is drinking beautifully now and has the potential to last into the early 2030s.
Produced since 1979, Castellare's annata sees its usual dollop of Canaiolo Nero as well as a brief passage in small French oak barrels. It is slightly confected to begin, then comes into focus with pure, fresh dark raspberry. Intense floral nuances of violet and rose join in, carrying over on the palate. It is concentrated in flavour with a light dusting of chalky tannins, while intrinsic juiciness keeps it agile. Admirable depth and length for the category. Drinking window: 2025-2029. Score - 91. (Michaela Morris, decanter.com, Feb. 16, 2025)
The plan is to shift the source of this pure Tempranillo red to the Rioja Alavesa in future, butthe 2019 release still contains a 10% component from the Rioja Alta sub-region. Aged in 50%new American and French oak, this is a sweet, spicy, well-structured Reserva with red berryand coconut flavours, some tannic backbone and a balsamic lift. Drink date: 2025-2031. Score - 92. (Tim Atkin, MW, timatkin.com, Rioja Special Report 2025)
(Translated from the French) Delicious and seductive in both aromas and flavours. Fruity notes prevail, with hints of jammy red fruit that seem light thanks to the fine bubbles. A moderate sweetness entices, with accents of red currant jelly, but the Champagne remains straightforward and vivacious. Balanced. Score - 94. (Terre de Vins, Dec. 2023)
The Grand Vin 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Château Sixtine is a blend of 54% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 16% Mourvèdre that's from a mix of many terroirs and was raised in a mix of stainless steel, concrete, demi-muids, and old barrels. It's a terrific wine in the vintage that shows the sunny, upfront style of the year yet brings ample density and depth. Ripe black cherries, blackberries, roasted herbs, leather, and peppery nuances define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. [Enjoy into early 2030s, but has the potential to go much longer.] Score - 94. (jebdunnuck.com, Oct. 29, 2024)
Created by legendary 'flying winemaker' Michel Rolland, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Agiorgitiko is rich and decadent. There's engaging wood smoke, generous chocolate cake and blackcurrant, and a long, smoky finish. This will drink into the mid-2030s and will be great with lamb or mushroom-based dishes.
Brooding and inky. Lots of warm stone, mussel shells and iodine to the deep, fresh purple fruit and violets. Broad and nicely chewy and fresh on the palate with a full body and a long, pristine and tightly wound finish. Grapes from Paraje Altamira and Los Chacayes. Better in two more years. Score - 93. (Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com, Feb. 6, 2024)
It's gorgeously fragrant on the nose, showing passionfruit, feijoa, green rockmelon and lime zest aromas. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and persistency. Powerful and delectably expressed, making it hugely appealing. At its best: now to 2028. Score - 95. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Aug. 2024)
Sourced from gravel-dominated soils in Alto Maipo, the 2022 Vitis Única Cabernet Sauvignon is a high-toned, spry expression of Chilean Cabernet with a distinctly contemporary feel. Fresh herbs, spices and red-fruit aromas mingle with notable cohesion, introducing a suave, dense and layered palate with a seamless, fluid feel. It concludes with a flashy, fine-grained finish with a mineral undercurrent. Drink date: 2024-2034. Score - 93. (Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com, March 13, 2025)
This ripe, plump wine is full of dark fruit flavour, softened tannins and light acidity for an overall easy-drinking Shiraz with flavours of blackberry jam, fruitcake, black pepper, and toasted oak. It will continue to develop for 2-4 years, or enjoy it tonight with a hearty meatloaf or lamb shank.
Intensely expressed and instantly appealing, the wine shows green rockmelon, feijoa, kiwifruit and lemon peel aromas, leading to a splendidly flavoursome palate that's filled with juicy fruit flavours with lively acidity, finishing persistent and delicious. At its best: now to 2027. Score - 94. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Aug. 2024)
This wine offers engaging earthy and smoky notes smartly woven between wild berries, milk chocolate and oak spice. It's structured and tannic, built for hearty meals.
This rich, sophisticated Viognier is sourced from vines ranging from 15 to 25 years of age planted in clay and limestone soils less than 10 kilometres from the Mediterranean. It has subtle toast underlying white flowers, with ample dried fruit, honey and vanilla. A gorgeously textured, food-friendly wine that will work with seafood, vegetarian curries, and white turkey meat at the holidays. Enjoy through 2028.
Vinified with wild yeast and matured in French oak for 20 months, this wonderfully complex Cabernet offers suggestions of redcurrant, blackberry, rose petal, oregano, thyme, tobacco, clove, and baking spices. Graceful and finely structured with gently chewy tannins, it culminates in a long, layered finish.
Lafontaine du Loup is part of the Grange's Opinion Series: Their upper-echelon family of wines dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what Prince Edward County wineries can produce. This is a vibrant, sophisticated traditional-method sparkler boasting fresh apple, pear, light brioche and almond notes.
Youthful, displaying oak aromas with a touch of liquorice on the nose. Ripe dark fruits, dried herbs and smoky flavours. Juicy with soft tannins and a harmonious finish. Drinking window: 2023-2030. Score - 91. (Panel, decanter.com, Sept. 11, 2023)
Niagara-on-the-Lake has growing conditions similar to those of Bordeaux, which is why the region lends itself to excellent, elegant red blends built around Cabernet or Merlot. This one is mainly Merlot with splashes of free-run Syrah and Malbec. It offers bright red cherry, raspberry, blueberry and graphite with a touch of smoked cinnamon, all lifted by brilliant acidity. Savour with pasta featuring eggplant and mushroom.
Made in stainless steel to maximize freshness and vibrancy, this is a gorgeously floral Chardonnay with notions of spring flowers, anise, citrus and wet stone. It's ripe and round on the palate with a zesty, lingering finish. Pair with acorn squash ravioli, roast chicken and potatoes, or pan-seared Arctic char.