Drinking Window: 2022 – 2027
Drinking Window: 2025 – 2030
Drinking Window: 2027 – 2040
Drinking Window: 2026 – 2036If this keeps up, the French will need to stop complaining about bureaucratic delays. In just two years, the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO), the regulatory body for French wines, has approved six new grape varieties that can be planted in Bordeaux and included in the blend of the wines. … Read more
($70, Enotec Imports, Inc): 
A paradox, the traditionally framed Il Poggiolo Brunello marries the ripeness of the 2015 vintage with a lovely austerity. Not a blowsy wine, it combines dark cherry-like fruit with a core of minerals. Importantly, especially for the vintage, it has great acidity, which imparts a wonderful vivacity to the wine. … Read more
($22): 
It is not surprising that Rodney Strong’s Chalk Hill Chardonnay continues to be an outstanding wine. If anyone knows where to grow Chardonnay in Sonoma, it’s Rodney Strong. He was bottling a Chardonnay under that label before there even was a Chalk Hill AVA. … Read more
($15): 
Vinho Verde, Portugal’s largest appellation, lies in that country’s northwest corner, bordering Spain. It’s known for racy high-acid wines. Some, sadly, provide little more than acidity. Enter Anselmo Mendes. His Muros Antigos delivers the mouth-cleansing zippy edge, but in addition there’s a lovely floral quality and an engaging lime-like quality. … Read more
($19): 
Monção e Melgaço, one of the nine official sub-regions of Vinho Verde, lies on the southern border of Galicia, the Spanish province that occupies the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The Alvarinho grape reigns here. Mendes is a new wave producer aiming to show what can be done with this grape in this sub-region, announcing his wines with a bottle engraved with the name of sub-region, the grape, as well as his name. … Read more
($39, Folio Fine Wine Partners): 
While Donnafugata maintains a traditional focus on indigenous Sicilian grapes, such as Nero d’Avola, they also have planted international ones, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and unusual ones, such as Tannat. Those three grapes comprise the majority of the blend of Tancredi. … Read more
($30, Folio Fine Wine Partners): 
Cerasuolo di Vittoria, located in southeastern Sicily, is that island’s only DOCG wine. Regulations require that Nero d’Avola comprise at least 50, but no more than 70, percent of the blend. Frappato fills out the blend. … Read more
($56, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
This lieu-dit, entitled only to a village appellation, lies across the road, but downhill from the Grand Cru Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet. Even in Jean Pascal’s talented hands, this village wine is not in the Grand Cru category, but it is more impressive than many producers’ premier cru — and at a far more attractive price. … Read more
($68, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
It’s hard to go wrong with the wines from Domaine Michel Bouzereau, a leading name in Meursault. Here are my notes for this wine from a visit in November 2019: “Good as most people’s 1er cru. … Read more
($30, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
Domaine Paul Pernot, one of the top producers in Puligny-Montrachet, opts to use the new appellation, Bourgogne Côte d’Or, for this wine that they formerly labeled as Bourgogne Blanc. The new appellation requires that the grapes come exclusively from the Côte d’Or, the heart of Burgundy.… Read more
($140, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
Vosne-Romanée could be considered the most revered village in Burgundy. Its wines, even those sporting just a village appellation, carry hefty price tags. And with the 25 percent tariffs, the prices are truly extraordinary. That said, this is a pretty extraordinary wine. … Read more
($55): 
Symmetry, according to Rodney Strong’s website, means balance. And I must admit, this wine is aptly named. It’s a suave complex Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant (70%) blend of five Bordeaux varieties. Roughly equal amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot fill out the blend. … Read more
($33, Enotec Imports, Inc): 
Fanetti, one of the great names for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, has produced a fabulous 2015 Riserva from their Tenuta S. Agnese estate. Traditionally framed, that is, not all gussied up with oak and over ripe fruit, the dark cherry-like fruit of Sangiovese shines. … Read more
($20, Dark Star Imports): 
Estate 44 pays tribute to the Allied soldiers, including the owner’s father, who liberated Tuscany in the summer of 1944. A blend of Sangiovese (60%) Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and equal amounts of Syrah and Merlot, it is more muscular than Buli’s 515 bottling, but has the same grace, suaveness and structure. … Read more
($20, Dark Star Imports): 
Robert Buly, an American who owns Buli, was drawn to Italy by heritage: his father married an Italian woman from Tuscany soon after WWII ended. On their website, he jokes that his father met his mother while on the search for red wine to drink. … Read more
($45, Folio Fine Wine Partners): 
Founded in 1785, this venerable Champagne firm passed into the hands of the Descours family about a decade ago. Its non-vintage Brut has since taken a leap in quality. I remember Piper-Heidsieck as an ordinary Champagne a decade ago, lean and angular. … Read more
($58, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
Domaine Bart is an A-list producer. Of course, their Grand Cru Bonnes Mares and Charmes-Chambertin are stunning. But, if you are looking for something that does not require taking out a mortgage before purchasing, look to their array of wines from Marsannay, a sleepy village north of Gevrey-Chambertin. … Read more
($77, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
The Clos Prieur vineyard, which is just across the road from Mazi-Chambertin, a Grand Cru, covers two appellations. The upper part is Premier Cru and lower part carries a village appellation. But once again, producer can trump geography. … Read more
($80, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
This 2018 Clos du Château de la Maltroye, a monopole of the Château de la Maltroye, is one of the best red wines from Chassagne-Montrachet I’ve ever had. It’s the epitome of power and grace. Savory elements complement gorgeous dark fruity ones. … Read more
($43): 
With prices of Burgundy having gone through the roof, it’s a delight to find one that’s affordable, at least by Burgundy standards. As I’ve long maintained, villages off the beaten path, such as Auxey-Duresses which sits behind Meursault, and talented producers who, for whatever reason, have never gotten the praise they deserve, like Gilles Lafouge, is the combination consumers should seek out. … Read more
I love Sauternes, but rarely drink that sweet wine. One reason is that the classic combination of foie gras and Sauternes hardly ever comes up these days. But the major reason is that a little goes a long way. One glass as dessert is divine. … Read more
Changes abound at Merry Edwards Winery, one of California’s leading Pinot Noir producers. In 2019, Louis Roederer, the Champagne house, purchased the winery, adding it to their already impressive group of California properties. With the 2018 vintage, Heidi von der Mehden took over from Merry Edwards herself as winemaker after working with her since 2015. … Read more
($54): 
Changes abound at Merry Edwards Winery, one of California’s leading Pinot Noir producers. In 2019, Louis Roederer, the Champagne house, purchased the winery. With the 2018 vintage, Heidi von der Mehden, who worked with Merry Edwards since 2015, took the reins as winemaker. … Read more
($110): 
This is, in a word, a powerhouse. But along with all the deep black fruit there’s an appealing tar-like mineral and earthy component. Substantial but not intrusive tannins support the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87 percent) and Petit Verdot. A youthful wine, it needs to sit in the glass to appreciate its complexity. … Read more
($60): 
The riper and deeper Merry Edwards Russian River Valley bottling, whose fruit comes from a variety of vineyards in that warmer AVA, is a fascinating contrast to their Sonoma Coast bottling. A weightier wine with black rather than red fruit tones, the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is juicy and well within bounds despite a 14.5 percent-stated alcohol. … Read more
($73): 
The floral 2018 Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir displays a gorgeous, layered complexity, with minerality and dark fruitiness intertwined. It conveys far more mineral-like nuances than the Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot, reflecting the focus of a single vineyard. Hefty intensity without being over the top coupled with suave tannins and an engaging bitterness in the finish make it hard to resist now.… Read more
($80): 
Unlike the Merry Edwards Klopp Ranch and Olivet Lane Pinot Noirs, the youthful 2018 Meredith Estate displays toasty oak flavors but little else initially. However, befitting a youthful, tightly wound wine, its considerable charms emerge over time. Denser and more concentrated than the other two, it remains balanced and within bounds. … Read more
($72): 
The dark and brooding 2018 Olivet Lane Pinot Noir is amazingly refined, especially considering its concentration. Less floral and fragrant than the Klopp Ranch, it expands and explodes as it sits in the glass. Initially, black fruit flavors predominate, but with air and time, savory notes appear and take over. … Read more
($40, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
The 2018 vintages produced some charming red Burgundies, some of which, such as this one, are delicious now. Féray’s has wonderful depth for a village wine, reflecting the ripeness of the grapes due to the warmth of the vintage. … Read more
($99, Winebow): 
There is no question that the Catena family is among the leading producers in Argentina — and perhaps the single leader of the pack. Nicolás Catena brought Argentine wines into the modern area by discovering what is universally accepted now: planting vines at higher altitudes in warm climates reduces the likelihood of harvesting over ripe grapes and making jammy wines. … Read more
($40, Seaview Imports): 
The Augusta refers to Augusta-Maria Herbin, Devaux’s wife, another widow of Champagne, who led the firm from 1879 to 1895. Family ownership ended in 1987, when, according to their website, it passed to the Union Auboise, now Groupe Vinicole Champagne Devaux, a co-operative. … Read more
($69, Folio Fine Wine Partners): 
This is a fabulously complex and elegant Champagne. Yes, it’s pricey for a non-vintage Champagne, but I think it’s worth it. The website says that their non-vintage wine is an equal blend of all three varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, that has been aged on the lees for three years. … Read more
($40): 
If the Naumes Pinot Noir Clone 667 was the weight-lifter, this one is the ballerina. Light in color and on the palate, it dances on the palate. It’s a captivating lighter style of Pinot Noir. If you prefer the Clone 667, you won’t be enthralled by this one and vice-versa. … Read more
($40): 
I won’t get into the scientific definition of a clone as it relates to grape varieties. Suffice it to say that in this case it’s a Pinot Noir with unique qualities. The wine certainly is very different from their blended Pinot Noir, showing more fruit, more concentration and fewer earthy flavors. … Read more
($40): 
This fifty-fifty blend of Tempranillo and Grenache marries the two beautifully. The Tempranillo provides structure and minerals while the Grenache contributes a floral fruitiness. More approachable than the straight Tempranillo at this stage, it would be a good choice with a hearty pasta dish tonight.… Read more
($35): 
Full disclosure: Malbec is not my favorite wine because too often it is just a big monotonic red wine. So, I was shocked when I tasted this one. There’s lots going on — fruit, to be sure, but smokey and earthy nuances peek out as well. … Read more
($26, Kobrand Wine & Spirits): 
Beaujolais is still trying to remind people it produces real, top-notch wine, not just “nouveau.” Well, Jadot’s Château des Jacques is a convincing exhibit. For over 20 years, Château des Jacques has been instrumental in showing the diversity of wines from within the crus of Beaujolais, those ten named villages, such as Moulin-à-Vent, whose wines are so distinctive that they may not even carry the name Beaujolais on the label. … Read more
($37, Bluest Sky Group): 
Two sommeliers, one of whom, David Seijas, worked at El Bulli, named the best restaurant in the world five times by Restaurant magazine, founded Gallina de Piel (which transliterates as “chicken skin” from Spanish, the equivalent of “goose bumps” in colloquial English).… Read more
($16): 
Beirzo, located in the northwest corner of Castilla y León bordering Galicia and Asturias, is home to the Mencía grape, from which this wine is made. With is weight and concentration, it’s a well-priced example of what that variety is capable of delivering. … Read more
($48, Terlato): 
Cecchi is one of the great names for Tuscan wines, especially Chianti Classico. Combine their talents with a great vintage, like 2016, and, unsurprisingly, you have a truly fine wine. It conveys both the charm and power of a Chianti Classico Riserva reinforced and amplified by great acidity, a characteristic of the vintage. … Read more
($65): 
Gran Selezione is a relatively new category of Chianti Classico. It sits at the pinnacle of the quality pyramid, above Riserva. Regulations require, among other things, that the grapes come entirely from the producers’ vineyards — no purchased fruit is allowed — and that the wine must be aged for 30 months before release, compared to 24 months for Riserva. … Read more
($27, Vintus): 
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has nothing to do with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The former is a grape, the latter a village whose wines, curiously enough, are made from Sangiovese. The quality and price of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is vast, from thin swill to monumental wine, which makes it a mine field when selecting wines. … Read more
($35, Vintus): 
Colline Teramane is the sole DOCG (Italy’s highest wine category) in Abruzzo, and shows the heights the Montepulciano grape can achieve when planted in the right place by the right people. This one, unsurprisingly, since it comes from Mascareilli, one of the region’s top producers, is stunning. … Read more
($27, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
No doubt about it, this is a great wine. People, my editor included, will be startled by my awarding 95 points to a village Rully, which just exemplifies the problem of numerical rating. On an absolute scale, is this a 95 Point wine, comparable to a Grand Cru from the Côte d’Or? … Read more
($35, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection): 
Domaine Bart, one of my favorite producers, flies under the radar. Even their stunning Bonnes Mares fails to get the accolades it deserves. They are best known for their array of reds from Marsannay, a village whose wines may lack cachet, but in the right hands deliver spectacular quality at an easy-on-the wallet price. … Read more
At this time of the year, people can be understandably fearful of giving wine to their wine-loving or worse, wine-geek, friends. So, here are some fail-safe suggestions, both vinous and educational. Plus, an essential but inexpensive gift item that would be a perfect as a stocking stuffer.… Read more