The Wine Independent (98)

This 2017 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero is from the Monvigliero vineyard, which is the jewel in the crown of Verduno. Often described as the most Burgundy-like of Barolos, this wine lives up to its reputation. It is a medium-deep, bright and youthful ruby color with a rich, dense, intensely perfumed rose garden and hedonistic spice nose with notes of exotic sandalwood. The aromas and flavors are persistent and intense. The soft, round, velvety, silky texture and dense red berry and raspberry coulis flavors combine. There’s a little grip and bite to the tannins and maybe an element of green herb in the background. A lovely, sensual wine.

Bob Campbell MW (97)

I never swallow samples during tasting but got pretty close with this wine. It’s just so damn delicious with layer upon layer of fruit and savoury characters that defy description. A tease of fruit sweetness is balanced by gentle tannins and subtle acidity that drive a very lengthy finish. A seriously good Pinot Noir.

Vinous (97)

The 2020 Pinot Noir Burn Cottage Vineyard is not a wine that I want to deconstruct into its components as it exemplifies balance, harmony and completeness, and I want to drink a lot of it. It is a wine that is the sum of its parts rather than its individual elements. It is young and can be approached now, but deserves bottle aging. It is full-bodied and suave but being from Central Otago - at the bottom of the earth next stop penguins - it has a sense of coolness and freshness, enlivening its entirety and retaining a sense of melodic direction among the mellow bass sections. There's a very small percentage of whole clusters (7%) that combine with the natural garrigue notes of Central Otago Pinot to provide herbal lift alongside pure cherry fruit and carefully judged oak.

The Roca Gianaca 2020 we have on offer today is a white of serious Burgundian pedigree. The vineyard has been consulted, trained, and analysed by Bruno Clavelier, a famous vigneron from Vosne Romanée; and the barrels used for ageing have been sourced directly from Domaine Ramonet. Indeed a seriously treated wine from vineyard to bottling, the Roca Gianaca is made from 100% Vermentino.

The Real Review (96)

Light to mid-yellow hue, with a reserved, shy bouquet which has traces of lemon balm, creamy lees and pencil wood, while the flavour is tremendously intense and focused, powerful in an understated way, with lemon and grapefruit flavours, showing concentration as well as subtlety, the finish lingering on and on. Time will doubtless build that bouquet further. A smashing chardonnay.

The Real Review (97)

Medium-deep red with a good purple tint and a mossy, forest-floor/earthy undergrowth and smoked smallgoods bouquet, the palate refreshingly lively with clean acidity underlying the complex, savoury, medium-bodied flavour. Mixed spices, taut and tense, direct and piercing in its lengthy finale, which concludes with a pleasant touch of chewiness. Superb pinot.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

This perfumed wine is rich in dark tannins and black currant flavors. It has lifted acidity and a wonderful juicy, balanced character. Very pure and well structured, this will be a great wine for aging. Drink after 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

The 2020 Château Calon Ségur is pure gold and another masterpiece from this estate. Harvested all in September and pulled from their 48 hectares of vines, the blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 20 months all in new French oak, and it hit 13.2% natural alcohol. My notes started and ended with "wow," and this riveting Saint-Estèphe offers a heavenly bouquet of red and black currants, truffly earth, iron, espresso, and tobacco leaf. With incredible purity of fruit, full-bodied richness, and ultra-fine tannins, it's a deep, pure, layered 2020 that deserves at least 7-8 years of bottle age and will cruise for 40-50 years in cold cellars. Hats off to the team at Calon Ségur.

The Camille Giroud Maranges 1er Cru Le Croix Moines 2017 stands as a testament to the exquisiteness of Burgundy wines. Hailing from the revered house of Camille Giroud, known for their authentic, traditional winemaking methods, this wine is a symbol of French viniculture at its finest. Crafted in the illustrious Burgundy region in eastern France, the wine embodies the profound character of the terroir, which finds expression in the elegant subtlety of its flavours.

The 2017 vintage enjoys a beautiful ruby hue, revealing an exceptional balance and depth of flavour. Ripple with the essence of ripe red fruits, earthy nuances, and a hint of spice, thanks to the meticulous ageing in oak barrels. The finish is undeniably rich, long-lasting, and harmonious. To savour the Camille Giroud Maranges 1er Cru Le Croix Moines 2017 is to embark on a sensory journey through the iconic vineyards of Burgundy.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2020 Santenay Clos Rousseau 1er Cru includes one-third whole cluster. It has a well defined, but more introverted bouquet than the Village Cru, touches of sous-bois and tobacco. This just needs time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, again, very smooth and velvety in texture, very finely judged acidity with a sapid finish. Great potential.

Vinous (95)

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is wildly perfumed, dusty and exotic, with balsam herbs, savory spices, red currants and plums coming across as so pretty yet rich and potent. A silky display of sour wild berries contrasted by candied citrus wows the senses as the 2017 plays a zesty sweet-and-sour act upon the palate. It’s long, youthfully chewy, yet still remarkably fresh, with rosy florals and tart, tart cherries giving way to chiseled tannins through the finale. This is a beautiful rendition of the 2017 vintage, one that takes the dry warmth of the year and expresses it with tremendous energy and verve. What's more, I revisited this bottle over the course of 36 hours and it only got better with time.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

Nicolas Audebert and his team have done it again. The 2017 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Rich and vertical in construction, the 2017 possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity in all of its dimensions. In the glass, the 2017 is sumptuous and layered, with superb detail and tons of sheer pedigree. In 20 years, readers will have a fabulous time tasting the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 together and debating their respective merits. Dark plum fruit, striking Franc aromatics and the clean, focused energy of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau make for a ravishing, exquisite wine of the highest level. In a word: breathtaking.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

Nicolas Audebert and his team have done it again. The 2017 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Rich and vertical in construction, the 2017 possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity in all of its dimensions. In the glass, the 2017 is sumptuous and layered, with superb detail and tons of sheer pedigree. In 20 years, readers will have a fabulous time tasting the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 together and debating their respective merits. Dark plum fruit, striking Franc aromatics and the clean, focused energy of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau make for a ravishing, exquisite wine of the highest level. In a word: breathtaking.

Wine Advocate (100)

The brilliant 2020 Canon looks set to surpass both the 2019 and 2016 as this estate's finest wine since the post-war period, though like many of the best 2020s, it will require more patience than its 2019 counterpart. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with notions of exotic spices and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with vibrant acids and beautifully polished, chalky tannins. Pure and precise, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. This beautifully constructed wine communicates the essence of this superb limestone terroir, and it will be worth a special effort to track down and cellar.

James Suckling (93-94)

Lots of richness and fruit for this winery, showing blackberry, blackcurrant and dark-chocolate character. It’s full and layered. Well done.

James Suckling (96-97)

Fantastic depth of fruit with layers of firm, chewy tannins that are medium-grained and long in the mouth. Full and dynamic. One of the best ever.

Experience unrivalled vitality and elegance with Cantine Garrone Valli Ossolane Prudent Diecibrente 2017. As one of Italy's spectacular Piemonte region's hidden gems, this refined wine exhibits remarkable complexity and subtlety. The family-owned Cantine Garrone meticulously crafts this exquisite creation in the picturesque Ossola Valley, rooted in organic viticulture and adherence to the region's unique varietal heritage. Prudent Diecibrente 2017 is a reflection of the hard work and dedication the Garrone family has invested in their vineyards since 1946.

It's a distinct fragrance narrative, grounded in the character of hand-picked Nebbiolo grapes, immersed in local nuances. Embracing traditional winemaking processes, this red's vibrant berry profile is balanced by soft tannins and a lively finish that lingers on the palate. The Cantine Garrone Valli Ossolane Prudent Diecibrente 2017 is indeed a harmonious fusion of tradition and terroir, intended for the discerning drinker's table.

James Suckling (97)

This is one of the most direct and clear Caros in a long time with blue-fruit, violet and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Crushed-stone, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and contracted with a level of shyness to its strength. The length derives from the excellence of the cabernet. One for the cellar. Blend of 74% malbec and 26% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2023, but exciting to drink all the same.

James Suckling (96-97)

This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot.

James Suckling (96-97)

This is very classically structured with a palate that starts off slowly. Full-bodied and chewy with a soft, creamy texture and a long finish. Savory. A touch austere. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 3% cabernet franc, the rest petit verdot.

Wine Advocate (95)

The perfect Mediterranean vintage produced an outstanding Garnacha. The 2020 El Molar fermented with 35% full clusters and matured in a combination of 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter foudres for one year. The wine is very young and tender; it feels more delicate despite having a little more alcohol than the 2019 (it's 15%) and with a slightly lower pH (3.49). It's super aromatic, extroverted and expressive, floral, elegant and complex. There is great balance, and the wine feels fresher and less ripe; it's refreshing and has a core of minerality and super fine tannins with pungent flavors. There is precision, elegance and balance, the three words that define the vintage. All the wines are very good value, but this is a steal. 40,000 bottles were filled in March 2022.

James Suckling (100)

What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished. A blend of 48% carmenere, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2025.

Vinous (92)

Dusty florals, musky cherry and raspberry with hints of mentholated herbs waft up from the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. This is enveloping and soft, with sweet exotic spices and juicy, vibrant acidity giving way to tart wild berries and rosy inner florals. There’s amazing length, hard red candies and violets, and sweet tannin that goes on and on, creating a somewhat chewy yet also fresh expression. The 2017 benefits from all of the fruit that would usually go into the single-vineyard Cerretalto Brunello, though even with it, production is down by 35%. That said, this is stunning juice.

Wine Advocate (96)

This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine (helped by a hot growing season and 15% alcohol) ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage.