(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)
This wartime Ukranian Charmat method sparkling wine is made from a blend of chardonnay, riesling, and aligoté. Notably floral and endearing with aromas of tender rose, jasmine, lime and sweet grapefruit. Off-dry and zesty with an enduring character. Tasted December 2024. Score - 88. (Sara d'Amato, winealign.com)
Made from Cabernet, Merlot and Saperavi, this velvety, flavourful bubbly evokes ripe cherry, berry jelly, dark chocolate, coffee, and sweet spices. Serve lightly chilled.
The NV Champagne Grand Cru Les Parcelles Bouzy Extra Brut is 70% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay, with the base wine coming from the 2017 vintage. It reveals very attractive aromas of toasted brioche, raspberry, lavender, and black cherry, and it is dry and inviting, with pure red fruits that fill the palate, with its florality lasting long after the finish, with a cleansing lift of salinity. This beautiful wine is deceptively easy drinking now. Disgorged July 2021. Drink 2022-2032. Score - 92+. (Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com, Nov. 7, 2022)
A slightly different breed than the '21, the 2022 Antinori 'Tignanello' Red Wine really needs about an hour in the decanter to get going. I enjoyed this wine on five occasions while staying in Firenze and each time I noticed how the wine began to slowly evolve after an hour. It is even more heady and intense than the '21, with a seamless texture and polished tannins that frame a gorgeous core of creme de violette, cassis, loamy soils and suggestions of sweet pipe tobacco on the palate. A total head-turning bottling, make sure to give this a lot of air if enjoying in its heady youth. Drink date: 2026-2046. Score - 99. (Dr. Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com, June 10, 2025)
Friendly and fruity but also tangy and appetizing, this nervy, light-bodied wine includes 12% cortese grapes. Crisp lemons, limes, kiwi fruit and jicama. Juicy and refreshing with low alcohol. Drink now. Score - 91. (jamessuckling.com, May 30, 2024)
As difficult as it is to pick a winner between the Gualtallary and El Cepillo bottlings, the 2021 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard gets my nod as the supreme example of the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Cabernet Francs. It hails from a plot planted on calcareous rocky soils in 1995 with 10,000 vines per hectare, fermented with 40% whole bunches in barrique and underwent a 15-month élevage in 100-year-old foudre. Opening with a brooding, inward and quietly perfumed nose, its aromatic profile ceaselessly expands to encompass all manner of herbal and floral complexity, combining simmering intensity with supreme elegance. The palate follows suit with a rich, silky, refined and gently succulent energy, releasing into a graceful, dense and glacial conclusion that gives equal measure to vertical energy and horizontal richness. The finish slowly but steadily builds upon itself, revealing shimmering acidity and ultra-refined tannins with increased aeration. There is no better example of Cabernet Franc's suitability in the Uco Valley, a match rendered here with incomparable finesse, depth and complexity. Drink date: 2024-2041. Score - 99. (Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com, May 1, 2025)
This is immediately appealing on the nose with Granny Smith apple, nectarine, feijoa and green tea aromas, leading to a delightfully flavoursome palate that's juicy and lively. Varietally expressive and delectably appealing. At its best: now to 2026. Score - 93. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, Nov. 2023)
The Romanian variety Grasa is capable of producing dry and semi-sweet styles. A true gem, it's found only in Romania, and even there only approximately 450 hectares are planted. These are ripe, round wines with suggestions of walnut, almond and apricot. They are notably balanced and vibrant. This botrytis-affected wine will be ideal with nuts, dried fruit, or blue-veined cheeses.
Presenting expressively vibrant white pomelo, honeydew melon, green apple, and greengage, evolving to dill, tarragon, zesty lime, and gooseberry. Finishes with elegantly lingering ... minerality and delicate marzipan nuances. Score - 92. (International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2024)
Deep, youthful opaque inky colour with distinctive aromatics of cassis, cassis leaf, black cherries, blueberries and brambles. Extraordinary fruit purity coupled with being distinctly varietal. A complete, concentrated, an attractive wine. Argentinian Cabernet Franc Trophy. Score - 96. (International Wine Challenge, 2023)
The 2022 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is terrific. Soft and pliant, with fabulous balance, the 2022 is a total charmer. Antinori's style today, one that favors a lighter hand than in the past, works so well here. Succulent red cherry, spice, new leather and rose petal are front and center. All of this fruit is from Antinori's Tignanello property. It captures all the essence of site in a more approachable style that is undeniably appealing. Drinking window: 2025-2034. Score - 93. (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 10, 2025)
Flint and cashew aromas get a vibrant lift from the lemon and lime curd aromas on this highly classy-yet-approachable Chard from one of New Zealand's most famous brands. Similarly, the palate feels open and complete, with lovely texture and acidity zhuzhing up the grilled stone fruit and spice flavors flowing to a long finish. Drink now with roasted chicken or mushroom or cellar for several more years. Score - 95. (Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast, Nov. 1, 2025)
Keen Vintages customers know that Weingut Rabl is one of the most trusted names in Austrian winemaking. This Grüner shows flavours of starfruit and green apple, with hints of asparagus and white pepper. Serve it in the sunshine alongside chicken burgers and potato salad.
Created by the superstar team of Jon Bon Jovi, his son Jesse, and iconic winemaker Gérard Bertrand, this blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre was first released in 2017 and has earned an enthusiastic following for its snappy, pure, fresh melon, cherry, peach, dried herbs, spice, and wet-stone minerality. Fun, appealing and fresh, it's everything you want in a rosé.
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.
Two parcels in Villalba (an area which produces some of the region's most structured reds) provide the grapes for this assemblage of Tempranillo with a little Viura and Malvasía. The oak is just a little drying, but there's plenty of underlying dark berry fruit and tannin. Just needs time. Drink date: 2024-30. Score - 92. (timatkin.com, Rioja Special Report 2022)
From the historic estate, a Brunello with a classic plant and great olfactory impact: black mulberry on the nose, touches of clementine peel, then cinnamon, to the salty palate, with a finish on notes of small fruits and sweet spices. Persistent. Score - 95+. (Luca Gardini, gardininotes.com, Oct. 2024)
Beautifully perfumed aromas of violets, cedar and fresh raspberries with some strawberries, too. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins that add tension and focus, as well as a crunchy undertone. Needs three or four years to soften. Best after 2028. Score - 97. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 24, 2024)