100% Moscatel de Setúbal. A façade of white nectarine, honeysuckle and orange peel with a generous core of acidity to diffuse the unctuous sweetness. Look out for marzipan, nuts and dried fruit at the end. Value. Score - 95. (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025)
Always a great value, this is a reliably vibrant wine, with floral, nutty, fig, smoke and pear notes, gentle sweetness and a long, intense finish. Pair with deep-fried calamari, or pork roast with crispy crackling.
Assertive aromas of graphite, violets, mint and chalky minerality. A stunning, precise wine focused on elegance, with citrus flavors, a full body and lavish, velvety tannins supported by freshness. Long, youthful and savory aftertaste. Try from 2026, but best after 2030. Score - 97. (jamessuckling.com, Jan. 11, 2025)
From a 30-year-old vineyard, this Bonarda includes a splash of Malbec and was fermented in stainless steel then aged for six months in French oak. It's generous and easy to enjoy, with good focus and structure, dark berry, blueberry, raspberry, gentle oak spice and smoke. This has the potential to drink through 2028+.
Exclusively from vineyards planted on stony, sandy soils in the Los Chacayes zone of the Uco Valley, this malbec displays the characteristic notes of that place. Here, the flowers, herbs, and firm tannins form a solid base that supports the succulent ripe red- and black-fruit flavors and firm, juicy acidity. Score - 93. (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2024)
A complex, layered white featuring aromas of stone fruit, lemon peel, chamomile and beeswax. Medium- to full-bodied, it is focused and compact, with a backbone of lively acidity that drives a lingering, mineral-laced finish. Drink or hold. Score - 92. (jamessuckling.com, July 29, 2025)
Intensely aromatic and inviting with notes of pineapple, kiwifruit, capsicum, and kaffir lime on the nose with a hint of oatmeal nuance. The brilliantly focused palate offers power and persistency, splendidly supported by bright acidity, making it fabulously drinkable. At its best: now to 2029. Score - 94. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, March 2025)
[Though this bottling is different from the one reviewed, it will show a similar quality and character.] The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs d'Aÿ is bright, effusive and full of character. Chardonnay is so expressive in Aÿ, where the aromatics are beautifully lifted and there is plenty of depth. Lemon confit, spice, apricot, tangerine peel and light tropical notes all grace this superexpressive Blanc de Blancs. Disgorged: February, 2021. Drinking window: 2021-2028. Score - 92. (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Nov. 2021)
This comes from HVD young vine (40 years old) and Army Block on Mistletoe Lane (30-40 years old). Very aromatic and floral, slight cut fennel, lemongrass, lime, white peach. Tight and flinty, pure acidity, feels and tastes great, a little bit powdery in texture, and finishes long with plenty lime and Disprin flavour. There's a succulence and richness to this wine, though it keeps itself trim and classic all the same. A top release, and it's so delicious now, you don't really need to wait (though you could). It's a toss up between 93 and 94 points, though I'm going for the latter as it's just so tasty. Drink: 2025-2035. Score - 94. (Gary Walsh, winefront.com.au, Aug. 20, 2025)
The 2023 Malbec Wapisa from the Atlantic coast of Río Negro showcases pure black fruit with blackberry, blueberry and plum dominating. The palate is dry and lean for the variety, with intense fruit-focused flavors and an enveloping texture. The clean, fruit-driven finish is flavorful and satisfying, with a less concentrated but elevated profile. Drinking window: 2025-2035. Score - 93. (Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, May 15, 2025)
Brightly fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows ripe plum, sweet cherry, clove and floral aromas, followed by a silky-smooth palate offering juicy fruit intensity, backed by supple texture and mellow tannins. Beautifully composed and delightfully appealing. At its best: now to 2027. Score - 91. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Nov. 2024)
Recommend decanting. A density of savoury and plum fruits with a hint of sweet vanilla and blueberry muffin. Dusted fine tannins gives this wine a lovely structure. Score - 94. (International Wine Challenge, 2025)
Instantly appealing with blackberry, vanillin oak, clove, game and cocoa aromas, it's plump and opulent in the mouth with plush texture backed by loads of silky tannins, finishing robust and sturdy with seductive complexity. At its best: now to 2036. Score - 95. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, March 2024)
This hand-harvested wine is produced only in small batches from select vineyards in the hilly Chieti area. You can expect to encounter an intense, bold wine with dark fruit, plum and spice notes. Perfect for mushroom risotto or braised meats.
This wine has an impressive nose, featuring aromas of dark berries, rich flowers, and mixed spices. On the palate, it offers succulent fruit flavours with excellent weight, complemented by a smooth texture and polished tannins. The wine is beautifully rounded yet wonderfully structured, leading to a persistent, flavoursome finish. At its best: now to 2035. Score - 94. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Nov. 2025)
A well-driven, balanced and flavorful cabernet sauvignon with aromas of dark berries, bark, baking spices and a touch of bell peppers. Medium-bodied with velvety tannins. Delicious and silky, with a flavorful finish. Drink or hold. Score - 92. (jamessuckling.com, Feb. 10, 2025)
Crunchy Loire bubble, sweetly herbal and with a note that imagines the perfect use of a fine brunoise of shallot as catalyst for fresh shucked oysters or a sautée of fresh seafood. Mousse is quite fine, temperature of personality steady and flavours all rolled into the fabric of what is quite the textured sparkling wine. Improves each time it is tasted. Last tasted January 2025. Score - 89. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)
40% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc. A buzz of bright cherry, raspberry and rhubarb youth with pencil lead tannins and a bedrock of wet stone minerals which advance fervently towards the finale. Score - 95. (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025)
This charming pink sparkler is from Lundy Manor, which is the only estate winery in Niagara Falls. An eclectic blend of Gamay with Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer, it's vibrant and floral with suggestions of fruit salad, a touch of grated ginger, and a subtle kiss of sweetness. Perfect with sushi, spring rolls or roasted root veggies.
This wonderfully complex Savvy was fermented in neutral French oak and matured 18 months on the lees, then bottled without fining or filtration. It offers notions of ripe green fruit, citrus peel, pressed flowers and savoury herbs and has the capacity to evolve through 2030 and beyond.