Reviews

Masciarelli

Rosato Colline Teatine 2022

Colline Teatine IGT

Abruzzo and the Montepulciano grape are famous for making arguably the finest rosé in Italy, from one of the only appellations in Italy dedicated 100% to rosé, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. This rosato is the little sister, a fresh, totally delightful expression.

Ornellaia

Ornellaia 2019

Bolgheri DOC Superiore

Ornellaia is the estate’s “Grand Vin,” with exceptional balance, power, elegance, and great aging potential. It faithfully reflects, in every vintage, its nature, site, and distinctive Mediterranean personality. This years cuvee is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.

Famille Bruno Lafon

Domaine Megellan Pézenas 2020

Languedoc

Magalas is a very old village with shaded alleys that breathe the southern art of living. When Bruno Lafon arrived he was lucky enough to come across remarkable and expressive terroirs – mostly sandstone soils giving aromatic wines with a very fine texture. They have converted this old vineyard to organic farming and the vinification and aging are very classic and very simple.

Famille Bruno Lafon

Le Fruit Defendu Blanc 2020

Vin de France (Languedoc)

Beautiful subtle aromas of Muscat complimented together with bright notes of citrus and melon imparted from the Grenache Blanc and Colombard grapes are all carried through to the palate. The palate is fresh, fruit forward with a lovely lingering expression.

Famille Bruno Lafon

Le Fruit Défendu Blanc

Vin de France (Languedoc)

Beautiful subtle aromas of Muscat complimented together with bright notes of citrus and melon imparted from the Grenache Blanc and Colombard grapes are all carried through to the palate. The palate is fresh, fruit forward with a lovely lingering expression.

Casisano

Rosso di Montalcino 2020

Rosso di Montalcino DOC

The Casisano Rosso di Montalcino is a red-fruited, traditional Sangiovese that comes from vineyards nestled in the southern hills of one of Italy’s most renowned wine producing areas, midway between the towns of Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate in the heart of Montalcino. The wine is a classic expression of Sangiovese Grosso, the Sangiovese clone used to make both Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino.

Marietta Cellars

Old Vine Rosé 2022

California, United States

Marietta’s Old Vine Rosé is a perfect extension of the Old Vine series. Made in a Provençale, direct-press style from some of the oldest Syrah and Grenache vines in California, it is fresh, nuanced, and perfectly balanced to enjoy with food or on its own. As always with the “OVR” wines, it delivers a lot more substance and pleasure than you could expect.

Casisano

Brunello di Montalcino 2017

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

This elegant, traditional style Brunello is produced in the southern hills of Montalcino, between the towns of Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate.

Famille Bruno Lafon

Le Fruit Défendu Rouge 2021

Vin de France (Languedoc)

“Vine growing and wine are in my blood. With my native Burgundian background, Magellan was an opportunity to write my own story. The Languedoc offers new terroirs, grape varieties and challenges. Now after 20 years of living the land, I relish each new vintage and in doing so have been privileged to now make wines that I enjoy, mirroring both my culture and second home.” – Bruno Lafon

Famille Bruno Lafon

Le Fruit Defendu Rouge

Vin de France (Languedoc)

Le Fruit Défendu Rouge expresses a complex terroir with unfussy winemaking, provoking the full ripe flavors from Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah with levity and grace. The wine shows punchy cherry and blueberry notes, with a lush and immediate profile. The perfect complement to all grilled foods as well as game birds such as roast guinea fowl.

Famille Bruno Lafon

Le Fruit Défendu Rouge

Vin de France (Languedoc)

Le Fruit Défendu Rouge expresses a complex terroir with unfussy winemaking, provoking the full ripe flavors from Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah with levity and grace. The wine shows punchy cherry and blueberry notes, with a lush and immediate profile. The perfect complement to all grilled foods as well as game birds such as roast guinea fowl.

Famille Bruno Lafon

Domaine Magellan Pézenas

Languedoc

Magalas is a very old village with shaded alleys that breathe the southern art of living. When Bruno Lafon arrived he was lucky enough to come across remarkable and expressive terroirs – mostly sandstone soils giving aromatic wines with a very fine texture. They have converted this old vineyard to organic farming and the vinification and aging are very classic and very simple.

Tenuta Luce

Lucente 2019

Toscana IGT

Lucente is the second wine of Luce, a wine with contemporary style, immediate and great pleasure, and like its elder sibling, an authentic interpretation of Montalcino and the Luce estate.

Champagne Bollinger

R.D. 2008

Champagne, France

A small revolution in the world of Champagne. In 1967, Bollinger releases R.D. 1952.  There is no comparable Champagne on the market at the time. This bold and brilliant Champagne takes the pillars of what makes Champagne Bollinger so unique, and pushes them to their ultimate level. It is, very simply, a masterpiece.

Borgo Paglianetto

Petrara Verdicchio di Matelica 2020

Verdicchio di Matelica DOC

Named for an ancient city over which vineyards are now planted, Borgo Paglianetto’s “Petrara” is simultaneously cerebral and utterly enjoyable. Organically grown from the unique north-south valleys of Verdicchio di Matelica DOC, the wine sees little in the way of winemaking manipulation at six months in stainless steel before bottling. The result is both generous yet tense, projecting a unique sense of place with some of the finest verdicchio in Italy.

Settlement

Heritage Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Marlborough

Featuring 30 year old vines planted over free-draining silt/clay loams, the Heritage Vineyard produces Sauvignon Blancs of typical Marlborough intensity, bolstered by elevated acidity and steely textures.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Gold Ridge Pinot Noir

Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California

The Gold Ridge is three clones of Pinot Noir selected from four excellent sites on the estate to create this complex and elegant blend. The unifying factor is our highly prized Gold Ridge soil, among the most coveted, especially for Pinot Noir.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Audrey Chardonnay

Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California

Iron Horse Vineyards

Russian Cuvée 2019

Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California

Russian Cuvée has multiple layers of meaning. Originally named for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings in 1985, it also refers to the vineyard’s unique location in the Russian River Valley. The Russian Cuvée is the “richest” in the Iron Horse line up, though it is still technically brut-level dry. A perfect toasting wine, served at White House State Dinners for six consecutive Presidential Administrations, it boasts aromas of caramel apple, nutmeg and orange zest, flavors of ripe red apple, lime, brioche and brown sugar on the palate. It is equally comfortable at the end of the meal with dessert as at the start of the meal for a toast.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Ocean Reserve Blanc de Blancs 2019

Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California

Ocean Reserve is a special, limited edition vintage Blanc de Blancs dedicated to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, VA. The Pacific is the engine of the special, cool, foggy microclimate, which allows Iron Horse to make Sparkling Wines on this level of finesse and elegance and makes giving back so essential. The connection between Pacific fog, sparkling wine, and people who care generates a special kind of magic. $5 per bottle sold goes to support this establishment.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Wedding Cuvée 2019

Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California

The irresistible Wedding Cuvée has witnessed countless special moments since its inception in 1980, served at engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day celebrations. Iron Horse’s play on a Blanc de Noirs, this wine features extremely expressive and fruit forward Pinot Noir lots blended with just a touch of steely Chardonnay to add a firm acid backbone. A romantic tinge of pink in the glass hints at the character of the Pinot Noir in this cuvée, and raspberry and nutmeg aromas on the nose are followed by juicy stone fruit, lively blood orange, and red berry flavors that are held seamlessly together with refined and delicate bubbles. Dangerously easy to drink.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Classic Vintage Brut 2019

Green Valley, Russian River Valley, California

The flagship of the estate, this wine shows everything the family strives to accomplish. The quality and finesse strike memory bells that say “Champagne,” while the flavors are unmistakably Sonoma County, Russian River, Green Valley and most distinctly Iron Horse. Delightful and complex rising dough, orange marmalade and baked apple aromas lead to an exquisitely balanced palate with flavors of ripe red apple, mandarin orange and hazelnut. The complexity of flavors and textures are perhaps only overshadowed by the sheer pleasure of enjoyment.

Juvé & Camps

Gran Juvé Gran Reserva 2016

Cava

Since it was first made in 1972, Gran Juvé has always been an emblematic cuvée, representing the best of Juvé & Camps. Categorized as ‘Brut’ with only 5g/l of dosage, it is only produced in exceptional vintages and is made using the best quality grapes from select vineyard plots. With a very long aging time in the bottle of about 42 months, it showcases the intensity and complexity that Spanish sparkling wines can achieve.

Juvé & Camps

Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva 2018

Cava

“Reserva de la Familia” (translating to ‘Reserve of the Family’) is one of the world’s greatest sparkling wines, 100% estate, certified organic, always vintage-dated, and all the more notable because of the quality needed to produce it without dosage.

Boya

Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Leyda Valley

Boya’s Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect balance of lime-tinged fruit and natural acidity with a clean, refined finish. An attractive nose of fresh white flowers and pineapple with hints of mango and passion fruit. The palate is well-balanced with beautiful acidity, lively lime-tinged fruit and a refined, crisp finish.

Boya

Sauvignon Blanc

Leyda Valley

Boya’s Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect balance of lime-tinged fruit and natural acidity with a clean, refined finish. An attractive nose of fresh white flowers and pineapple with hints of mango and passion fruit. The palate is well-balanced with beautiful acidity, lively lime-tinged fruit and a refined, crisp finish.

Boya

Pinot Noir

Leyda Valley

A coastal, approachable Pinot Noir that melds lively acidity with bright red fruits in a well-balanced, harmonious style. Intense nose of fresh fruits like strawberry, red cherries and plenty of floral aroma. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, good natural acidity and fresh berry fruits towards the finish. It is well balanced, clean and expressive.

Boya

Pinot Noir

Leyda Valley

A coastal, approachable Pinot Noir that melds lively acidity with bright red fruits in a well-balanced, harmonious style. Intense nose of fresh fruits like strawberry, red cherries and plenty of floral aroma. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, good natural acidity and fresh berry fruits towards the finish. It is well balanced, clean and expressive.

St. Supéry

Napa Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Napa Valley

One of St. Supéry’s most renowned wines is their Sauvignon Blanc, vinified in a clean and crisp style. The vines themselves are a unique field selection, hand-picked from within the Dollarhide Vineyard in the late 1990s and propagated throughout the property ever since.

St. Supéry

Napa Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Napa Valley

One of St. Supéry’s most renowned wines is their Sauvignon Blanc, vinified in a clean and crisp style. The vines themselves are a unique field selection, hand-picked from within the Dollarhide Vineyard in the late 1990s and propagated throughout the property ever since.