Jancis Robinson (17+)

Floral and citrus aromatics carry into a savoury, lively, saline and citrus palate that leaves even the tactile effect of saline on the palate through the long finish. Flinty accents also persist throughout. While the aromatics are pretty and lifted, they transform into a palate of power. There is initially less complexity here than the other Sta Rita Hills wines but more power of presence. This wine is the most palate-filling as well. It wants a bit of time in bottle to integrate and gain finesse, which it certainly has, but it is showing as restrained exuberance currently instead. Allow it some time in the cellar before opening. (ECB)

Decanter (95)

It was a great pleasure to visit Rajat Parr in Santa Barbara at the beginning of this year and to see some of the extreme sites his team are farming. Since 2011, Raj and his winemaker Sashi Moorman have been producing consistently thrilling Chardonnays and the 2014s may well be their best to date. This wine, which hails from a vineyard planted in 1971 by the pioneering Richard Sandford, is beautiful, opening in the glass with a complex bouquet of lemon zest, tart pear, tangerine oil, subtle hazelnut and a lick of noble reduction. On the palate the wine is concentrated, intense and deep at the core, with great cut and energy through a finish that tingles with minerality. At 12% alcohol this is very far from the caricature of California Chardonnay, and readers who are about to get stung by 2015 Burgundy pricing should give this a serious look.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

An estate that has been firing on all cylinders recently, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Sansonnet sports a saturated ruby color as well as a beautiful bouquet of macerated black cherries, blackcurrants, smoked earth, spice, and tobacco. This ripe, sexy, full-bodied beauty has terrific overall balance, a layered texture, no hard edges, and a beautiful finish. It's a gem in the vintage and is well worth a case purchase. The blend is 90% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, all brought up in 80% new French oak. Don’t miss this brilliant wine.

Jeb Dunnuck (96+)

This estate has been on fire of late and that doesn't appear to have changed with the 2018 Château Sansonnet. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a young, unevolved bouquet of pure crème de cassis, graphite, crushed violets, bouquet garni, chocolate, and distinct chalky minerality, it delivers remarkable purity, full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and flawless balance. A wine that builds slowly with time in the glass, offering a beautiful mix of richness, elegance, and length, it's as good, if not even better than the 2016. Don't miss it!

James Suckling (95-96)

A powerful and intense red with blackberry, blueberry and ultra fine chewy tannins. It’s so long and energetic. Dense center palate.

Wine Advocate (97)

From the lightest, sandiest soils in the Gras Châteauneuf stable, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is a blend of 80% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre and 2% Cousoise. Befitting its origins, it's the most perfumed of the three wines this year, with floral, rose-like notes, a veritable potpourri of spice and herb shadings and a vibrant core of red berries. It's labeled (like the others) at 14% alcohol but feels lighter on the palate, soaring in silky arches of intermingled red berries and delicate tannins, then lingering elegantly on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

It's hard to choose a favorite among Santa Duc's 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but Le Pied de Baud stands out for the seduction of its smoky, floral nose. Raspberry and red cherry flavors are pristine and plump, etched by fine strokes of fur, charred earth, violet and tea leaves. An opulent but freshly balanced blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault framed by fine, persistent tannins. Approachable already but should improve further through 2030 and hold further.

Wine Advocate (96)

Marked by aromas of resinous herbs, roses and raspberries, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud is an enthralling blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault from the Le Pied de Baud lieu-dit, in the south of the appellation. Raspberries, strawberries and redcurrants all make appearances, supported by crisp acids and silky, just-ripe tannins. Young Benjamin Gras is looking for tension in his wines, and this wine captures that elusive quality, lingering tautly on the mouthwatering finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-97)

Lastly, the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a beauty boasting killer notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks, pepper, garrigue and scorched earth. This seriously good 2015 has building richness, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish, all suggesting short-term cellaring will be your friend. It will keep for two decades of more.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, the 2017 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is less aromatic than it was last year, folding in darker notes of black cherries and chocolate. Yet it's still wonderfully full and textured, with a plush, velvety feel and a long finish. It seems to grow in aroma and flavor the longer it's in the glass, always a good sign.

Experience the graceful allure of the Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016. Masterfully crafted in the heart of Piedmont, Italy, this vintage red boasts a disciplined structure thanks to the region's cool climate and strict harvesting laws. With ageworthy finesse, Sara Vezza's traditionalist approach ensures the full expression of Nebbiolo in each bottle. The integrity of old-world winemaking runs deep in the Vezza family, cultivating a product steeped in authenticity.

The Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016 presents an elegant tapestry of dried roses, crushed minerals and ripe red fruits forming a beautifully complex palate. Harmoniously balanced and well-integrated tannins invite a long, lingering finish. While ideal for decanting, its unflinching quality and potential for cellar ageing renders it a prominent contender for any discerning collector.

Whether indulged now or stored for a special occasion, the Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016 promises a captivating journey through Italy's quintessential wine heritage.

Indulge in the exquisite Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2017, a jewel of the Langhe region in Piedmont, Italy. The carefully cultivated Nebbiolo grape varietal has been masterfully utilised by the respected Vezza family, who have passionately nurtured their craft over the generations. Their commitment to high-density planting, traditional viticulture methods, and meticulous grape selection manifests in a sublime expression of the Nebbiolo grape.

The Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2017 boasts a tapestry of elegant aromas, from wild cherry and fragrant rose petal, to undertones of leather and tobacco. It graces the palate with a full-bodied, velvety texture, underpinned by a well-structured tannic backbone. Decanting is advised to fully reveal the wine's complexity and intensity. This wine not only stands as an epitome of terroir-driven Barolo but is also an extraordinary testament to the Vezza family's winemaking finesse.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

This iconic Italian wine from Bolgheri's landmark Sassicaia vineyard (characterized by little rocks, or "sassi") offers an elegant bouquet comprised in equal measure by mineral, fruit and spice nuances. The wine consists of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc and the finish is long, smooth and very fine. This is an ageworthy wine that should not be opened before 2018.

James Suckling (98)

An extremely rich and ripe wine with currant, cherry and balsamic aromas. Hints of leather. Follows through on the finish. Full body, round and velvety tannins that are reserved and beautiful. Sweet and sour. Savory, too. Drink or hold. This has a long life ahead of it.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

Aromas of red berry, blue flower, menthol, exotic spice and a whiff of French oak take shape on this impeccably balanced radiant red. The palate is vibrant and focused—almost ethereal—delivering raspberry compote, Marasca cherry, star anise and cinnamon framed in elegant tannins. Weightless and loaded with finesse, it's an incredible result for what was a cool wet vintage in most of Italy. Drink through 2024.

James Suckling (98)

Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. Approachable now but will reward more in five to six years. A classic Sassicaia.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2016 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is another wine I love. It is an exceptional wine from one of the best vintages in Tuscany in the last decade. 2016 was a cooler and more classic vintage than 2015 and one can almost sense more freshness, comfort and ease for the vine in the natural harmony of this wine. The wine has vibrancy, a mouth-watering freshness and a beautiful natural grace. The nose is bright and clear with very precisely delineated aromas of wild flowers, meadow grass, violet, rose and cassis. The 2016 is looking stunning, with a wonderful texture and flow, yet a twist of nervosity and energy too. Drinking now but it needs maybe 5 years to begin to show its best.

The Wine Independent (97)

The 2017 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is such an impressive wine in a hot and very dry vintage like 2017. It has a wonderful fragrance of sweet spice, pressed flowers and Mediterranean herbs with youthful, bright blackberries and forest floor notes. A problem with the 2017 vintage was that the nights were hot as well as the days so it was challenging to accumulate aromatics and achieve full phenolic ripeness. Paoli and his team had to harvest early and shorten maceration times. In any case they have done an excellent job. It has lovely concentration and power on the palate yet it still retains the classic Sassicaia signature of vibrant acidity and harmony and flow across the palate.

Kerin O'Keefe (98)

All about radiance and finesse, this iconic, stunning Tuscan red has beguiling aromas recalling cedar, wild red berry, menthol and pipe tobacco that mingle with a whiff of fragrant blue flower. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, the focused, elegantly structured palate is vibrant and savory, delivering cassis, orange zest, licorice and a hint of coffee framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps energized and balanced. Drink through 2033.

The Wine Independent (100)

This 2019 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is really very special. A subtle change has occurred and the typically aristocratic and elegant finesse of Sassicaia now has a little more joie de vivre. It is intense and deeply concentrated without being heavy and with very fine, beautifully integrated tannins that harmonize with the body of the wine. Carlo Paoli, MD and head of winemaking, views 2019 as “one of the great vintages of the last decades. Although it was not generous in quantity (about 15% less than in 2016), for the quality of the grapes… it is to be considered exceptional.” The winemaking team are at their peak in terms of understanding and managing the vineyards and the more extreme vintage variations they face due to climate change. There were 280,000 bottles made this year but in response to climate change, Paoli plans to reduce the quantity. The 2019 reminds me a lot of the sublime 2016 but somehow it is bolder with even more energy, vivacity, and exuberance. Drink from 2024-2050.

The Wine Independent (100)

This 2019 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is really very special. A subtle change has occurred and the typically aristocratic and elegant finesse of Sassicaia now has a little more joie de vivre. It is intense and deeply concentrated without being heavy and with very fine, beautifully integrated tannins that harmonize with the body of the wine. Carlo Paoli, MD and head of winemaking, views 2019 as “one of the great vintages of the last decades. Although it was not generous in quantity (about 15% less than in 2016), for the quality of the grapes… it is to be considered exceptional.” The winemaking team are at their peak in terms of understanding and managing the vineyards and the more extreme vintage variations they face due to climate change. There were 280,000 bottles made this year but in response to climate change, Paoli plans to reduce the quantity. The 2019 reminds me a lot of the sublime 2016 but somehow it is bolder with even more energy, vivacity, and exuberance. Drink from 2024-2050.

The Wine Independent (100)

This 2019 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is really very special. A subtle change has occurred and the typically aristocratic and elegant finesse of Sassicaia now has a little more joie de vivre. It is intense and deeply concentrated without being heavy and with very fine, beautifully integrated tannins that harmonize with the body of the wine. Carlo Paoli, MD and head of winemaking, views 2019 as “one of the great vintages of the last decades. Although it was not generous in quantity (about 15% less than in 2016), for the quality of the grapes… it is to be considered exceptional.” The winemaking team are at their peak in terms of understanding and managing the vineyards and the more extreme vintage variations they face due to climate change. There were 280,000 bottles made this year but in response to climate change, Paoli plans to reduce the quantity. The 2019 reminds me a lot of the sublime 2016 but somehow it is bolder with even more energy, vivacity, and exuberance. Drink from 2024-2050.

James Suckling (97)

A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. 85% cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027.

James Suckling (97)

A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. 85% cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027.

Wine Advocate (100)

This is a benchmark vintage, offering special appeal thanks to its profound sharpness and precision. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia remains fixed and immobile, like a time capsule of the vintage itself. One member of the winery team with whom I tasted used the word “granitic,” referring to its frozen, statue-like posture, a description I found especially fitting for the wine’s character. Whereas the 2016 vintage shows iron-like minerality, the 2021 reveals brilliant limestone clarity followed by dark currant, dried mint and blood orange. Cabernet Franc is reduced to 12% in this blend alongside Cabernet Sauvignon. The mouthfeel is complete and profound, defined by freshness and firm texture, and even when revisited nearly an hour later, this stone statue of a wine did not budge. This is a bottle clearly built for long cellar aging.

Wine Advocate (100)

This is a benchmark vintage, offering special appeal thanks to its profound sharpness and precision. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia remains fixed and immobile, like a time capsule of the vintage itself. One member of the winery team with whom I tasted used the word “granitic,” referring to its frozen, statue-like posture, a description I found especially fitting for the wine’s character. Whereas the 2016 vintage shows iron-like minerality, the 2021 reveals brilliant limestone clarity followed by dark currant, dried mint and blood orange. Cabernet Franc is reduced to 12% in this blend alongside Cabernet Sauvignon. The mouthfeel is complete and profound, defined by freshness and firm texture, and even when revisited nearly an hour later, this stone statue of a wine did not budge. This is a bottle clearly built for long cellar aging.

Vinous (93)

The 2020 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Courtelongs 1er Cru, which comes from north-orientated vines on red limestone soils, is very harmonious on the nose, perhaps more understated than other cuvées from Saumaize-Michelin. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very saline in the mouth, hints of bitter lemon and a dab of spice, very persistent on the finish. An intellectual (as well as quite delicious) Pouilly-Fuissé in the making.

Burghound (89-92)

An intricately layered nose freely offers up its combination of ripe white and yellow orchard fruit, especially peach, and less floral but spicier aromas. The rich, textured and vibrant flavors possess very fine mid-palate density that brims with dry extract on the sappy finish that is supported by lemon-tinged acidity. This is a big and powerful St. Véran that isn't elegant but offers much to like. 2024+ Sweet Spot Outstanding

The Savart & Dremont Ephemere 018 Grand Cru NV is an esteemed Champagne born from the illustrious vineyards of Ambonnay and Verzenay in France. This sparkling gem, envisioned by the wine maestro Savart and Dremont, is an exquisite blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, skilfully nurtured to yield a refreshing essence. The cultivation process involved in making this wine is sustainable viticulture, which utilises an exceptional blending method.

On degustation, the Savart & Dremont Ephemere 018 Grand Cru NV unfolds an intriguing array of flavours, wherein initial hints of brioche and ripe peach capture your attention, followed by subtler notes of white flowers and citrus zest. The finish leaves a delightful creamy texture and a pronounced minerality that celebrates the wine's impressive age. Through its rigorous production process to its distinguished character, the Ephemere 018 undeniably elevates Savart & Dremont's reputable portfolio, making this Champagne an absolute must for every connoisseur's cellar.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Possibly the wine of the vintage is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon which is a more elegant, seamless wine compared to the more brooding and backward 2015. Exhibiting a deep purple color and utterly heavenly notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, white flowers, and graphite, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, insane purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannin, and a finish that won’t quit. While a big, powerful wine, it’s the purity of fruit and tannin quality that sets this incredible wine at the top of the pyramid. Drink it anytime over the coming 2-3 decades. Hats off to winemaker Celia Welch!