Volnay elegance shows in translucent red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and violet. Forest floor, clove, smoke and gentle vanilla give it a savoury frame, with bright acidity and fine tannins shaping a graceful match for roast poultry, mushrooms or beef.
Wairarapa Pinot Gris lands on the fuller side, offering ripe pear, red apple, peach and melon with hints of honey, almond and ginger. A waxy texture gives substance, while balanced acidity keeps the finish clean. Pair it with salmon, seafood pasta or mildly spiced dishes.
Every year Pieropan captures the soul of Soave, Garganega and the vintage in such a pristine way that it keeps us in awe. This vintage shines with aromas of Fuji pears, Anjou apples, lemon blossom and flint. The palate is crisp with green apple skin and lemon zest flavors that give way to toasted almonds, acacia honey and a minerality so deep that you might as well be in a quarry. Drink now-2040. Best Buy. Score - 93. (Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast, Oct. 1, 2024)
Les Quartiers De Nuits is yet another minuscule plot of a vineyard identified and chosen by Nicolas Potel, not quite one-third of a hectare, planted 96 years before this 2023 harvest. An early one for the most part, before the cold winds move in and ahead of Grand Cru neighbours like that of Echezeaux and Clos de Vougeot. There is a bit of mean intensity and streak in this singular, lieu-dit cru of a Bourgogne. The tannins are fierce, they lash upon the palate with severity and therefore the necessity to give time will become the requiem to success. Les Quartiers De Nuits is no shrinking violet and in fact the mix of botanical verdancy and bitters make up a formula which could never be solved in the first few years. The stuffing can't be denied and the objective is perspicuous. Stay clear for a while. Drink 2028-2035. Tasted March 2025. Score - 93. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)
Ode to a matriarch and the height of quality but also importance within the Beaune reds made at Domaine de Bellene. More closed than the Savigny and Volnay, stricter and more tightly wound. Not exactly a matter of density but it does feel more compact and yet restricted to say that these vineyards produce fruit of a higher skin to flesh ratio. The extraction and maceration follow suit to establish an unyielding compression that will take some years to unravel and eventually expose the true nature of the fruit. Expect a truly fleshy Beaune Premier Cru somewhere ahead between three and for years time. Drink 2028-2034. Tasted March 2025. Score - 93. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)
A very pretty and refined Savigny old vines from domaine vines, always a solid bottling from Nicolas Potel, and attractively priced. 2022 was a warm vintage to be sure, but there's impressive balance and poise here, a purity of cherry fruit, a suppleness of tannins and comfort of the acids that beguiles. Length and depth are very good, and it's drinking remarkably well even at this early stage - it won't be a vintage for the long term I feel, but there will be considerable pleasure up front. Tasted August 2024. Score - 92. (John Szabo, MS, winealign.com)
Aux Chaignots is a newer and pint-sized 0.14 hectare plot of Premier Cru Nuits-Saint-Georges in the northerly Côte d'Or upslope and within a limestone throw over to those in the village of Vosne-Romanée. Makes for the most two-toned, dual-textured Bourgogne of the lot, at one crisp and crunchy and then chewy, from exterior to interior. Reminds somewhat of the formidable 2020 and its striking tannins, both capable of unleashing and crashing their power over our palates with impunity and trenchant intention. Of course this 2023 remains in an immovable state, grippy and suggestive of a hands off approach for a minimum five years post vintage. More would be the suggestion because the fortification is a secure one and there is really no sense trying to break down barriers that do not want to be broken down. Drink 2028-2037. Tasted March 2025. Score - 96. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)
Puglia Primitivo gives a generous, velvety red built around plum, blackberry jam, ripe cherry and dried red fruit. Vanilla, oak, marzipan and warm spice add a plush backdrop, while the dry finish reins in the sweetness. Bring it to pizza, pasta or steak.
Classic Rioja maturity comes through in ripe cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant, wrapped with vanilla, dill, leather, tobacco, cedar, balsamic and dark chocolate. The palate is full and mellow, with polished tannins and impressive length that can stand beside roast chicken, beef or slow-cooked dishes.
Rose, sage mixed with dark and red berries. On the palate there was a lovely freshness to the fruit, balanced with a vanilla kick. [This will drink into the mid-2030s.] Score - 95. (International Wine Challenge, 2024)
Redstone is an outpost of Ontario's iconic Tawse and is named for the red soil of the vineyard. This lithe rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Syrah and is loaded with strawberry, citrus, cantaloupe, cherry, peach, and red pepper. Chill and then sip, or pour with grilled sausages, prosciutto, or brunch with a ricotta frittata and broccolini.
Vines planted on the gentle slopes of the Niagara-on-the-Lake region enjoy ideal sun exposure throughout the day. Lake Ontario, the Niagara River and the Niagara Escarpment moderate temperatures, allowing the flavours in white grapes to ripen fully while retaining fresh, buoyant acidity. That's certainly present in this wine, along with a delicate hint of fruit sweetness and notes of citrus, lychee, apple and spice.
Tavel is famous for its robust, colourful, flavourful rosés. This one always delivers impressive red fruit and berry, with nuanced citrus and mineral undertones. Expect a richly textured, versatile wine that will make fast friends with a wide range of summer foods including green salads, grilled herbed chicken breast or grilled seafood.
Not quite 20 year-old chardonnay vines at this stage from just a shade under 0.4 hectares below Les Charmes in Santenay. Yet another white Bourgogne stunner from Nicolas Potel that rings the bell of excellence for vintage and place. The refrain is sung on repeat because it does not seem to matter which plot, big or small - they all succeed out of the most justly cultured vintage. There is a chewy character to this Santenay and without the same bite and structural backbone of Saint-Romain, Savigny-Les-Beaune and Les Monts De Boncourt. Still the pleasure is all ours. Drink 2024-2027. Tasted August 2024. Score - 91. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)
Delicate Languedoc Grenache rosé arrives pale and fragrant, with strawberry, melon, peach, red currant and citrus. Subtle herbs, minerals and a faint creamy note add interest without weight. Dry, refreshing and flexible, it suits roast turkey, summer salads or casual appetizers.
Red cherry, raspberry and strawberry lead this Marlborough Pinot Noir, joined by clove, cedar and a light smoky-earthy note. Supple tannins and mouthwatering acidity keep the palate graceful, with savoury depth adding interest through the finish.
Intensely aromatic and inviting, the bouquet shows kiwifruit, green rockmelon, feijoa and sweet basil aromas, followed by a succulent palate delivering terrific fruit power combined with juicy acidity, finishing long and exuberant. At its best: now to 2026. Score - 94. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, March 2024)
This blend of Sangiovese and Merlot offers a rich, ripe array of dark fruit, herbs, spice, chocolate and vanilla. It will drink through 2026+.[Luca Maroni tasting note not available.] Score - 98. (lucamaroni.com, Oct. 25, 2023)
Ruby black color. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, eucalyptus, rosemary and white pepper, and tea with a velvety, lively, dry medium body and a warming, interesting, medium-length finish that exhibits nuances of blackberry, leather and white pepper, menthol, and red and black cherry with herbs with crunchy, chewy tannins and light oak flavor. A big Shiraz that stays in balance and doesn't become heavy while still showing good complexity; a natural pairing for rare steak or herb crusted lamb. Exceptional. Score - 91. (tastings.com, Sept. 12, 2024)
McLaren Vale personality runs bold here, with blackberry, blueberry, black plum and ripe cherry wrapped in smoke, licorice, leather, chocolate and pepper. The body is full, the texture velvety, and the finish savoury. Ideal for barbecue, charred vegetables or hearty winter cooking.