James Suckling (96-97)

A solid, tight red with blackberries, black olives and hints of brown sugar and walnuts. Full and tight with fine, persistent tannins. Tight and focused.

James Suckling (94-95)

A solid young wine with plums, dark cherries and a hint of coffee. Medium to full body with a beautiful finish. Tannic and solid.

EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2019, crafted by the esteemed EnRoute winery, exemplifies superior winemaking tradition. Nestled in the prestigious Russian River Valley appellation of California, the winery employs meticulous artisan techniques to capture the distinctive flavours of various vineyard sites.

Proprietary clones are hand-selected, and meticulously farmed until they reach optimal maturity, then hand-sorted at harvest to ensure pristine quality. Each small lot is fermented separately to preserve the individual character. Vinted utilising traditional Burgundian practices including open top fermenters and native yeast fermentation, this Pinot Noir bursts with complex, layered red fruit tones.

The 2019 vintage marries rich intensity with graceful elegance, offering enticing aromas of ripe black cherry, dried flowers and exotic spice, leading to plush, full-bodied palate, with a harmonious, lingering finish. Trust this meticulously crafted, iconic EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2019 for an elevated wine experience.

Dive into the exquisite world of the EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2021, a quintessential expression of the Russian River Valley in California. This robust yet elegantly balanced Pinot Noir is produced by the esteemed Far Niente family of wineries, known for crafting meticulous and refined wines. The unique terroir of their Pommiers vineyard, with its cool, fog-kissed climate and well-drained Goldridge sandy loam, brings out an enchanting blend of opulent fruit notes and earthy undertones.

Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, it yields an intoxicating nose of cherry, raspberry, and spiced plum, with subtle notes of savoury herbs and toasty oak. The palate is vibrant with red and black berry flavours, underscored by lively acidity and smooth, mouth-coating tannins. A typical Pinot Noir with expressive complexity, the EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2021 continues the winemaker's commitment to expressive, terroir-driven wine. It's truly a profound, indulgent experience for the discerning oenophile.

Wine Advocate (94+)

2020 was a great vintage in the Mediterranean, and the 2020 Albahra, a blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera from the zone of Almansa and 30% Moravia Agria from Manchuela, showed better than ever. The two grapes fermented separately with part of full clusters in concrete and with indigenous yeasts. The Garnacha matured in concrete and the Moravia in neutral 228-liter barrels for eight months. It has 13% alcohol and good freshness, a fine thread and round tannins. It's juicy and supple—the harvest was easy with great weather, very different from 2019— and the acidity of the Moravia is more polished. The wine has a bright ruby color and is aromatic and clean, precise and attractive. It's medium-bodied and silky with very round tannins. They compare it with 2017. This is one of the most incredible bargains from Spain. Drink or hold. 59,000 bottles and 750 magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2021.

James Suckling (98)

Nervy, nicely funky, precise and mineral nose with a “protective” flintiness and an alluring peppery edge to the wild berries and pomegranate. Fine, dissolved tannins with a mealy, dusty texture, tapping into a super tangy, fresh palate full of grapefruit zest and wild berries. Really long and irresistible now, but can age.

Wine Advocate (96)

The Enzo Boglietti 2016 Barolo Arione draws its fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, from a vineyard site that has gained much attention in recent years. Arione has thick silty soils and these contribute to the gentle finesse and floral perfumes of the wine. Don't forget power. There is plenty of muscle flexing in this brawny, determined Nebbiolo with firm tannins and deep structure. A mere 2,000 bottles were produced. Count on this wine to complete a long and rewarding drinking arc.

Vinous (91)

The 2005 Barolo Case Nere is a dark, brooding wine redolent of charred notes, tar, smoke, spices and dark fruit. This bruising, heavyweight Barolo offers tons of intensity and muscle but the brooding style could use a touch more elegance. Still, the wine possesses terrific harmony and plenty of personality.

James Suckling (96)

Wonderful clarity to this wine with floral, cedar, pure-strawberry and citrus aromas that follow through to a full bodied, tight and focused palate with tannins that flow through to the finish. Such purity and beauty to this. Try after 2023.

Vinous (92)

The 2005 Barolo Fossati opens with floral aromatics that lead to menthol, spices flowers and raspberries. Texturally wine combines elements of creaminess and energy, with outstanding density. The tannins need some time to settle down, but this powerful, long Barolo is a commendable effort from Boglietti.

Vinous (93)

The 2006 Barolo Fossati presents a gorgeous, floral bouquet that resonates on the palate where red La Morra fruit blossoms with gorgeous purity. This is a deceptively mid-weight offering, yet the Fossati possesses plenty of concentration, superb clarity and tons of texture. It is a wonderful effort from Enzo Boglietti.

Wine Advocate (94)

Enzo Boglietti’s 2007 Barolo Fossati is a beautifully radiant, generous wine in this vintage. Sweet roses, tar, licorice and succulent red cherries come together beautifully in the Fossati. This is yet another Barolo from a site that is less-favored in most vintages, but that totally outperforms in 2007. The round, harmonious finish leaves a lasting impression. The Fossati is a gorgeous Barolo, and one of the finest wines I have ever tasted at this address. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Soccorso from Tiezzi boasts an extroverted display of ripe blackberry complemented by notes of dried orange, minty herbs, tobacco and finally hints of mocha. It’s texturally deep and layered, ushering in wave after wave of ripe black cherries and plums contrasted by zesty acids and hints of sour citrus. Its tannins steadily build throughout the experience, sneaking up on you while drying out the 2016’s fruits and creating a clenching feel on the palate under an air of violet florals and hints of tobacco. It’s a dark, large-scaled and beastly expression of Brunello, but it is sure to have its fans.

Ernie Els Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a sublime blend hailing from Stellenbosch, a premier wine-producing region in South Africa. This sumptuous red is exquisitely crafted by Louis Strydom, chief winemaker at the prestigious Ernie Els Wines estate. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are meticulously hand-harvested and matured for 18 months in fine French Oak barrels to yield an opulent and smooth finish.

The Ernie Els Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a dignified wine, boasting aromas of ripe, dark fruit and structured tannins, mirroring the rolling vineyards in which it is birthed. Notes of blackcurrant, cherry and mocha imbue it with a harmonious balance of richness and complexity, perfect for discerning palates. This bottled poetry is the manifestation of international sportsman and winery owner, Ernie Els's, dedication to excellence. Savour this beautifully matured Cabernet Sauvignon from the heart of South Africa - the epitome of fine wine.

Vinous (92)

The 2018 Don Maximiano is 70% Cabernet, 15% Malbec, 7% Carménère, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc from Panquehue, Aconcagua. Intense purple in the glass, it delivers a nose of red fruit with plum, a little jam, black currant, mint, balsamic notes and rose over secondary woody aromas. Ample and juicy on the palate with good energy; the tannins are fine and the flavors intense. A wine that might be described as the missing link between the past and the present.

Wine Advocate (95)

I also tasted two consecutive vintages of the slate Pinot Noir, and the oldest of the two is the 2016 Aconcagua Costa Las Pizarras Pinot Noir, which fermented with 18% full clusters in open vats after a cold soak and had a 20-day maceration. It matured for some 14 months in French barriques, 33% of them new. It has that iodine-like or fresh blood note I associate with schist and iron soils. This seems fresher and more precise than the previous 2015, unlike what I saw in the Chardonnay bottlings. It's nicely textured, with ultra refined tannins that provide some grip and stick to your teeth. 6,500 bottles were filled in May 2017.

Wine Advocate (95)

I also tasted two consecutive vintages of the slate Pinot Noir, and the oldest of the two is the 2016 Aconcagua Costa Las Pizarras Pinot Noir, which fermented with 18% full clusters in open vats after a cold soak and had a 20-day maceration. It matured for some 14 months in French barriques, 33% of them new. It has that iodine-like or fresh blood note I associate with schist and iron soils. This seems fresher and more precise than the previous 2015, unlike what I saw in the Chardonnay bottlings. It's nicely textured, with ultra refined tannins that provide some grip and stick to your teeth. 6,500 bottles were filled in May 2017.