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A creamy and fruiyt white with sliced apples and pears, as well as some flint, parsley, and fennel undertones. Medium-bodied, fresh and satisfying. Drink now.

Organic

95 points Wine Advocate
Do you have a favorite pair of jeans or a favorite dress that you keep in your closet for all occasions? That's the equivalent of this wine. The G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Albe is an enormously versatile expression of Nebbiolo with an affordable price that offers more value for your money than most Barolos out there. The bouquet focuses on dark berry pressed flower and crushed stone. It offers good sharpness over broad lines. The mouthfeel is medium-plus in texture and it closes with silky accessible tannins. Fruit comes from three cru sites: Coste di Vergne Fossati and La Volta

Organic

"A soft, pale, brilliant pink with bluish tints developing over time towards more orangey nuances. The bouquet releases aromas of summer fruits, cassis and redcurrant. Floral notes of rose along with hints of grapefruit complete the picture. The finish is fresh, offering notes of candy. On the palate the impression is fresh and full, with great aromatic persistence and balance." - Gerard Bertrand

90 points Wine Advocate
The fruit-driven, light and fresh 2022 Malbec is young and vibrant with a bright ruby color and a nose of red berries and violets, which is attractive. It's juicy and tasty, with a serious dry finish

Organic

90-92 points Vinous
The 2024 Morgon Côte du Py has a vivid, stony bouquet with redcurrant and raspberry fruit unfolding in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins and a touch more sour cherry in the mix, especially on the piquant finish. Again, this is very promising and might become the edgiest of Burgaud's 2024s.

90 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Breca has ripeness and 15% alcohol but also a leafy twist on the nose. It's sultry and juicy, with abundant, fine tannins and a dry finish. It was produced with fruit from old vines on different soils—slate, clay and limestone—fermented with uncrushed grapes and matured in second- and third-use 500- and 600-liter barrels for 16 months.

Organic / Biodynamic

A versatile, young red wine with a ruby red color and a bouquet characterized by inviting aromas of black cherry pie, black berries, thyme, red pepper grains and exotic spices. The taste is medium-bodied, fruity and smooth with a long lingering, dry finish, reminiscent of undergrowth, with an underlying hint of menthol. Blend: 60% Sangiovese, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot.

The renown Vino Nobile di Montepulciano producer Avignonesi doesn?????t just make red wines for fancy dinners and cellaring - they make a delicious table red as well! An everyday wine to go with your pasta bolognese or slice of pizza. It?????s called Cantaloro and is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot.

Cantaloro is soft on the palate, has gentle tannins, and drinks well above this silly low pricepoint. If there ever was a time to stock up with a case, this is it! Afterall, who do you want making your "house" red? A corporation who places a whimsical cartoon label on their wine or one of the most respected wineries of Italy? I know which I?????m choosing.

Organic

The composition is 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is marked by a vibrant ruby/garnet color married to a richly spicy nose with hints of tobacco and coffee in the background; the flavors are dominated by red currant, cassis, and raspberry; the texture is silky and the wine is smooth and generous on the palate; the subtle tannins have grip but are graceful making this wine particularly welcoming over the near term.
The Pueyos follow traditional vinification techniques. After a 3 day cold maceration, fermentation takes place in both cement tanks and stainless steel tanks. Either way, temperatures are closely monitored so the fermentation proceeds at a controlled pace with maximum temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius. The “cuvaison” (fermentation + maceration) usually lasts between 15 and 20 days. Closely monitoring the temperature during fermentation helps avoid extracting the harsher, more bitter tannins that can appear if the temperature gets too high. Half of the wine is aged in barrels for 18 months following fermentation. Only 25% new barrels and 25% one-year-old barrels are used each year, to avoid overwhelming the fruit. The second part of the cuvée is aged in cement tanks. The two parts of the wine are ultimately blended, then fined with egg whites before bottling.

The 2017 vintage was tied for Third Place in PJ Wine's - Wine of the Year 2021 blind taste-off.

You may be familiar with Chan de Rosas Abarino which has been a staple on PJ Wine’s shelves for years. It has always been a terrific value. Well, the winemaker Marcos Lojo has left the winery to do his own project, Marcos Lojo Pedras Loiras Rias Baixas Albarino, and it’s a knockout!

Marcos’s Albarino is spot on for what you would want in an Albarino. The acidity shines through this medium bodied citrus and mineral driven white. It is zippy, almost tart, with a beautiful saltiness that makes you salivate for more. Coming from Rias Baixas, home of the best Albarinos, it is easy to see why the locals drink so much Albarino. It is refreshing, thirst quenching and pairs perfectly with the fresh seafood of the region.

Looking for a new house white wine? Look no further, Marcos Lojo has you covered.

100% Albarino grape from the Val de Salnés.
Selection of old vineyards with an average age of more than 50 years, oriented to the west, and settled on very shallow and sandy soils from the decomposition of granite bedrock. Fermentation and aging of wines in 400-liter French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.
15% of wine ages for 6 months in new 400L French oak barrels with weekly batonnage.

#42 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

91 points Wine Spectator
Vanilla and resin accents frame the core flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and plum in this firmly structured red. Flashes of violet and spices emerge as this fades gracefully on the long aftertaste.

Winemaker Notes:
Round. Light. Balanced.
"APRICOT, Lemon, GALA APPLE, subtle oak and SPICE aromas. Lemon drop, white STONEFRUIT, yellow plum and HONEYDEW melon on the palate. Richly TEXTURED and concentrated with BALANCED acidity that drives a lingering &nish. "

91 points Wine Enthusiast
The life of the party, this lucid, bombastic Savvy B offers up heady lime, lemongrass and pink grapefruit aromas, with a whisper of dried herbs below. There's a gently slippery quality to the texture. In rushes the limey acidity to dial it up a notch or ten.

91 points Burghound
There is good Chablis typicity present in the form of iodine, seashore and petrol along with citrus zest top notes. The delicious, vibrant and precise middle weight flavors flash good minerality on the clean, dry and saline-inflected finish. This is very good for its level and worth considering. Note that the house style is ultra-pure with no wood, and I can vouch from personal experience that the wines age extremely well.

Originating from the usual parcels and raised entirely in stainless steel, it has a brisk nose with Granny Smiths, lime and wet stone. Classic Chablis. The palate is well-balanced, with a bitter lemon entry lending tension. Taut and linear, it delivers a refreshing, spicy finish that lingers in the mouth. Very fine.

On the nose there is the nectar of field flowers such as camomile, elderflower, iris. Mineral on the palate with a finish of almond, typical of classic Garganega. Vin Soave is our entry-level wine and represents half of our overall production. We define it as “a little luxury for everyday.” Classic, harmonic and intense wine. Ideal high-end wine by the glass: excellent quality/price ratio. All our vineyards are located in the Soave Classico area: hilly area with basaltic-volcanic soil. Minerality and field flower notes make the wine pleasant and intriguing, easy to match with food. 30 year-old vines develop complexity and balance. IT NEVER TIRES! 100% Garganega: this variety was introduced in the Classic area 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Vinification in stainless steel tank. Not fruit-driven; mineral and floral notes that clean the palate, making it food-friendly with lots of dishes. - Winery

Winemaker Notes:
A refreshing food friendly white wine, Albarino is crisp, elegant and dry and has aromas and flavors of pear, passion fruit, and apple with bright acidity.

#79 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

91 points Wine Spectator
An elegant red, with fine tannins enmeshed with flavors of pureed raspberry and black plum reduction, soft fig, thyme and lavender accents, while a minerally underpinning echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2028.

92 points Wine Advocate
The bread-and-butter wine here is the 2021 Bela, produced with Tempranillo from the village of Villalba de Duero (mentioned on the label), from sandy and clay rich soils on limestone mother rock that delivers powerful but not overripe wines with a short-ish élevage to achieve a fine-boned and fresh wine. The grapes were picked between October 1st and 25th, mostly Tempranillo but some 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot too, and it matured in French oak barrels for nine months. it's ripe without excess, with very integrated oak and a velvety palate with silky tannins. It reminds me of the historical wines from the early 1990s, Valribeño and so on, with some rusticity but very honest and characterful. With time in the glass, it develops a precise note of licorice intermixed with berry fruit and some spices and herbs.

Winemaker Notes:
"Cherry colour with garnet rim, bright and intense. Red fruit expression, powerful, elegant, dry stone, coca bean, creamy oak, hints of spices. Powerful, flavourful, fruity, good acidity, smoky aftertaste, toasty, long finish."

In 1927, a group of 15 vine-growers banded together to create the Cooperativa Ribera del Duero (which translates as "Bank of the Duero River"). They were the first to make a wine called "Ribera del Duero", and as regional pioneers, eventually gave their name to the DO when it was created in 1982. Generations later, this cooperative is producing some of the most highly acclaimed wines in Spain under the name "Protos", meaning "First" in Greek.

In 2008, Protos reached another milestone with the completion of its state-of-the-art winery by renowned British architect Richard Rogers. A modern architectural gem, the winery is built into the mountain just beneath Penafiel Castle, at once complementing and contrasting the ancient landmark.

LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Protos has two wineries in the heart of the Ribera del Duero: Penafiel (near Valladolid) and Anguix (near Burgos). Their third winery, La Seca, is where they make Verdejo in the neighboring Rueda DO near Valladolid. Protos owns 100 hectares of vineyards around its wineries and has partnerships with several local growers who supply additional grapes.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Protos has the unique distinction of offering wines from two DOs, producing fresh, aromatic Verdejos from Rueda in addition to varietal Tempranillos from Ribera del Duero. Harvesting is entirely manual, and production is gathered in 20-kilogram boxes (just over 44 pounds) to aid in ensuring only completely healthy, whole grapes reach the fermentation tanks. Protos has also implemented an extensive R&D program to test the effects of different types of barrels on its wines.

In both DOs, Protos leverages its generations of winemaking experience, cutting-edge technology, and philosophy of "Quality above all" to produce exceptional wines.

Jose Serrano Carlos Guzman graduated from the L??Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique in Montpellier, France, with a degree in viticulture. Following graduation, he served as winemaker and technical director at several estates, including Bodega Cooperative de Morales de Toro (DO Toro), Bodegas Marques de Riscal (DO Rueda), and finally Bodegas Roqueta (DO Pla de Bages). He became Winemaker Director at Bodegas Protos in 1999.

The review is on the previous vintage.

Organic

#70. on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

90 points Wine Spectator
This light-on-its-feet white is dry, tangy and orangey, with blood orange granita, orange blossoms and juicy tangerine acidity accented by hints of fresh tarragon and salty mineral. Drink now.

Winemaker Notes:
"This crisp, fruit-forward and juicy wine has expressive aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, with nice heft in the mouth, and mineral and spice notes. Most red meats and grilled or roasted white meats, especially those prepared with savory herbs or spices."

If we had our way, fish stores would include a bottle of Muscadet with every dozen oysters sold. But barring new regulatory measures of food and drink, picking up a bottle of Muscadet should be as much of a given as dressing for salad; bread for a sandwich; a steak knife for a steak! That's how perfect and an integral this wine is with briny, East Coast oysters (or any shellfish, truly!). Here, Pepiere's version is bright and briny, with a little lemon meringue and lemon verbena on the nose, and that clear, bracing minerality that keeps you coming back for another sip (and another oyster!). -- PJ

93 points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Le Volte Dell'Ornellaia is a saturated red/ruby color and is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, raised in used barrels for around 10 months. Always a wine leaning into the fruity and approachable side of things, the nose is fruity and fresh with aromas of candied flowers, crushed raspberries, red apples, and fresh stony earth. Medium to full-bodied, it’s very elegant with a joyful ease. It’s a great snapshot into these wines, which are mighty tasty now and have a lot of character. Drink 2025-2035.

#81 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

90 points Wine Spectator
Bright, buoyant acidity supports a pretty mix of ripe nectarine, Gala apple, blood orange pith and almond blossoms in this lithe, light-bodied white, with a salty undertow. Drink now.

This is an incredible buy in crisp refreshing white wines. Their Alvarinho is citrus in color, aromas reveal classic tropical and mineral notes. The wine is clean and fresh on the palate with a subtle intensity about it. The bright acidity makes this quite refreshing and easy to drink which is ideal as an aperitif or to accompany seafood dishes, fish or poultry dishes.

Hot days and cold nights, not only makes for good sleeping weather but also ideal for growing Alvarinho. This Portuguese grape thrives in those conditions, producing wines with open aromatics, round balanced fruit, and tart racy acidity.

Melgaco, the most northern region of Portugal, is protected by the surrounding mountains that allow a perfect marriage between rainfall, temperature and the number of hours of sunshine needed for the better maturation of the Alvarinho grapes. This climate characteristic during ripening is frequently associated with the microclimate of Moncao and Melgaco, where hot days alternate with cold nights. Soalheiro is perfectly situated to take full advantage of this.

Organic

91 pts Wine Advocate
The certified organic red 2020 Cune Organic is aromatic, expressive and fruit-driven but with depth and complexity. They liked the Garnacha in 2020, which represents no less than 60% of the blend, complemented by 30% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. The wine is fresh and has a profile similar to the young and juicy Crianza, with good ripeness and a solid palate. It matured in second use 300-liter oak barrels for six months. Urrutia mentioned cheerful and barbecue when talking about this wine. Very good at that.

"P??ppoli 2020 is ruby red in color. On the nose, P??ppoli delivers intense notes of red fruit, especially cherries, currants and strawberries accompanied by floral undertones of violets and lavender with light, spicy hints of licorice. Its palate is defined by a soft entry, accompanied by lively sensations, and sustained by ripe tannins that lead to a fresh, savory finish." ?????winemakery with a tasty vein of acidity together with silky and polished tannins. "

Very fresh with aromas of lemon pith, white grapefruit, crushed shells and slate. Some biscuits and salted yellow plums. Medium-bodied with beautiful minerality and freshness. Vivid finish. 5 months sur lie with battonage in the fermentation vessel.

A traditional barrel fermented white wine from Rioja, produced with a blend of the most important indigenous white varieties of the region. The wine is composed practically of all Viura and Malvasía, but there is a tiny quantity of Garnacha Blanca which adds complexity and aromatics. Typical and traditional in its blend and production, but unique in its higher levels of freshness and approachability at a young age compared to other whites from Rioja.

90 points Wine Advocate
Tasted twice, two months apart, with consistent notes, the 2020 Côtes du Roussillon Bastide Miraflors is a 70-30 blend of Syrah and Grenache, aged in demi-muids and concrete tanks, respectively. There's a hint of peppermint, but the primary focus here is on the fruit, ranging from blueberries and mulberries into darker notes of plum and dark chocolate. It's full-bodied and creamy in texture, with deliciously supple, soft tannins, which make it exceptionally easy to drink now, but maybe not particularly long-lived.