95pt wines

Perfumed and pure, this has the classic generosity of Condrieu fruit, but it's neat and defined. Spherical on the palate, with well-balanced acidity and no excess oak, well judged. A little peppery, spicy nip on the finish.... Read More

Pale straw with green highlights, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is savory and floral with aromatics of fresh herbs, grapefruit rind, beeswax, and soft floral notes as well as delicate oak spice. Medium-bodied, it has an elegant, supple... Read More

Ripe berries and cherries with some currant jam as well as a bouquet of fresh flowers. Full-bodied with lots unctuous fruit and layers of tannins that are supple and caressing. Flavorful finish. Fresh, too. For people who want... Read More

Such a flinty nose that delivers a full package of minerality. Quarry, chalk, gun powder and lime. The nose really speaks to you. Creamy and textured on the palate with bright but chiselled acidity and real tension. One of the... Read More

The dried-mango and pineapple character is so delicious in this wine. It’s full-bodied and medium-sweet, with a pretty density and a fruity finish. Wonderful balance to this super Sauternes. This is a little in reserve now,... Read More

The dried-mango and pineapple character is so delicious in this wine. It’s full-bodied and medium-sweet, with a pretty density and a fruity finish. Wonderful balance to this super Sauternes. This is a little in reserve now,... Read More

A wine I was able to taste on multiple occasions, the 2015 Troplong Mondot is a tour de force that readers need to snatch up. This cuvee comes from the cool, clay and limestone soils on the upper plateau (it’s the highest... Read More

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée De La Reine des Bois is a deeper, more masculine wine with gorgeous cassis and blackberry fruits as well as graphite, licorice, crushed stone, violets, and lavender nuances. Rich,... Read More

A bit higher pitched compared to the Pajana, the 2019 Barolo Ginestra Ciabot Mentin is pure with anise spice, kirsch, and rocky earth. More linear than the Pajana, with equally if not more impressive length and finish, it is evenly... Read More

The 2021 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is gorgeous, with a floral perfume of fresh roses, raspberry eau de vie, fresh coniferous herbs, and spice. Medium-bodied, this stunning wine has wonderful transparency, with fine sweet tannins,... Read More

Taking on dark mineral tones, the 2021 Chardonnay Platt Chardonnay is outstanding. Notes of crushed stone, white flowers, and wild mint are followed by a medium-bodied white with a fantastic core of concentration, suspended tension,... Read More

Vineyard Owner: Joly Family
Vine Age: 45-50 years
Soil: Shale and sand
Exposure: Southern
Density: 20 hectoliters per hectare
First Year of Production: 1130

Vintage Report

The 2021 vintage is the smallest volume we’ve ever... Read More

Rustic and masculine; classic and modern. A woodsy first impression of rugged cedar, tobacco, incense, cardamom, and white pepper reminiscent of Crozes-Hermitage. As the wine unravels from its infancy; highlights of dried rose... Read More

The larger production 2020 Côte Rôtie Brune Et Blonde is a winner, and readers could do much worse than a case of this in the cellar. Ripe black raspberries, spring flowers, smoke, and some meaty nuances all shine... Read More

Fiore di NO is Natalie Oliveros' personal touch for La Fiorita. This is a selection of 2 of our 4 vineyards: Pian Bossolino (360m) and Collesorbo (180m). For millions of years, time has allowed for a strong interaction between... Read More

A single vineyard expression from Pian Bossolino, La Fiorita’s Riserva was picked on 10 October. It comes across as very ripe in its aromas of wild black cherry and exotically spiced plum. Traces of smoke interject. There... Read More

Thanks to its perfect mastery of the Chardonnay’s vinification, a rare and demanding grape variety, Laurent‑Perrier offers a 100% Chardonnay champagne without added sugar. From a year when maturity allows a sufficient natural... Read More

The Vintage is the choice of an exceptional year from which only a selection of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Grands Crus will enter into a future iteration of Grand Siècle. It is a rare and outstanding wine that expresses... Read More

This iteration of Grand Siècle is almost entirely composed of two of Champagne's greatest recent vintages, so expectations are high. The wine more than meets them, tempering the generosity of 2012's fruit –... Read More

On this 6ha vineyard, 15 year-old cordon spur-trained Sangiovese Grosso vines are planted at a density of 4,500 plants/ha. The grapes are harvested by hand in the last week of September, are then crushed and transferred to tank... Read More

#10 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022

Intense, bright and luminous golden hue. Dynamic effervescence with a continuous stream of fine bubbles. Intense, fragrant bouquet of great purity. Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle... Read More

Vigna Loreta is a small single vineyard, and the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Loreto has aromas that are forward with menthol, sweet chewing tobacco, and saddle leather. It is full-bodied, with notes of red plum, vanilla,... Read More

From a great site outside of Santa Maria, the 2020 Chardonnay Le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard is another ripe, powerful Chardonnay revealing musky notes of melon, honeyed lemon, toasted bread, and hints of almond paste and chalky... Read More

Aromas of red and black cherries, violets, and rose petals leap from the glass. The palate is layered and plush, with a long, lingering finish. The 2021 “Victor Francis” is a gorgeous wine that showcases the beauty... Read More

All varietal, the 2020 Grenache Peake Ranch Vineyard reveals a deep ruby hue to go with a fresher, more focused, elegant style on the palate. Black cherries, black raspberries, toasted spice, licorice, and leather are just some... Read More

Tasting notes

Straw yellow with golden reflections. Intense aromas of orange blossom and citrus peel introduce an exotic bouquet of tropical fruit: mango, papaya, passion fruit. Notes of iodine and toasted bread spread with vegetable... Read More

Powerful and sleek, this shows a glistening beam of yellow apple wrapped in stylish oak, with tremendous underlying concentration. Modern and very well-executed, with a saline streak, this hums with mineral energy and impressive... Read More

More Cabernet-dominated, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five checks in as 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, and a splash of Malbec. It has incredible purity in its cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and camphor... Read More

The 2019 Terminim 'Alder Springs Vineyard' Syrah is made by the iconic Don Patz, who was the founder of Patz & Hall. This wine was made in partnership with the famous Francois Villard who is one of the top producers in... Read More

It reveals fresh and floral aromatics, with bright red fruit, rose petal, dried thyme, and dusty earth. The palate is crisp and refreshing, with ripe raspberry, candied strawberry, and tea leaf. Its structure is medium-bodied... Read More

Confident complexity on display here, fresh, powerful spicy notes of tobacco and grilled coffee beans alongside cool blueberry fruits. Winemaker Michel Friou has made a brilliant wine in this vintage that expands outwards through... Read More