Red

93-95 points Wine Advocate
I tasted this still-unbottled regional red in January 2024. The 2022 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes has grapes from 53 vineyards in seven villages, and in 2022, it was 60% Garnacha, 39% Cariñena and 1% white grapes, higher in Cariñena than in recent years in this extremely warm and dry year. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with part of full clusters, had a 41-day maceration and should spend some 12 months in French barriques and larger barrels. It's fully ripe at 14.5% alcohol while keeping a pH of 3.55 and 5.05 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter of wine), parameters of very good freshness. This is always a little earthier and with a beautiful touch of rusticity showing the character of Priorat. It's ripe without excess; all the 2022s show surprisingly fresh for such a warm and dry year. They expected to fill 113,000 bottles around March 2024.

Organic

91 points Vinous
Vallana's 2020 Gattinara is powerful, rustic and a bit rough around the edges, and yet it conveys so much genuine, uncomplicated character. Dark fruit, new leather, licorice, dried herbs and mint are some of the notes that take shape as this rambunctious Gattinara gradually opens in the glass

Winemaker Notes:
The grapes are hand harvested and manually selected before crushing, and then transferred to cement tanks for a 24 hour cold soak. The cement thermally insulates the must, and the fermentation temperature rises gradually: this is ideal for the extraction of color and structure while preserving the freshness of the bouquet. Fermentation lasts about 10 days and pumping over is performed during the whole fermentation period. Occasionally, a delestage is performed. Vallana’s Gattinara undergoes malolactic fermentation during the first winter. In spring it is transferred into large oak barrels (7-12 Hl) for 24 months, and the wine must age for at least another year in accordance with the rules of the DOCG. However, Vallana traditionally ages the wine in bottle a few more years before releasing it.

This is a very bold style of Pinot Noir, so much that it's not very reflective of the grape but would work well paired with a juicy grilled steak. Concentrated aromas of blackberry, maple syrup and hot pancakes lead into a viscous, thick palate of berry jam, clove and cardamom flavors.

Organic / Biodynamic

94 points Vinous
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino reveals the dark side of Sangiovese, with more black fruit than red. A mass of crushed stone minerality blows off to reveal spiced orange peels and incense. It's silken and round, with a polished core of ripe blackberries offset by a tinge of sour citrus toward the close. It leaves the cheeks puckered with tension as edge tannins resonate and hints of licorice fade slowly.

94 points Jeb Dunnuck
Bright jeweled ruby in color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is flush with pure aromas of candied flowers, cherry lozenge, pine needles, and blood orange. Medium-framed, it's ripe and pure on the palate, with refreshing energy, a very balanced feel, wonderfully refreshing salinity, and well-defined tannins. I love this vintage for Caprilli, and although this is showing off today, it should age with ease over the coming 20 years. In a second tasting, I was even more impressed with this wine, which has a lot of clarity and balance. Bravo…

94 points James Suckling
Plenty of menthol, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas in this elegant, medium-weight Haut-Médoc that’s got as much freshness as ripeness and a long, clean, mineral and herbal finish. An incredibly food-flexible wine! Drink or hold.

Organic

95 points James Suckling
Tremendous spicy and balsamic complexity overlays the ripe (but not a jot overripe) blackberry fruit of this concentrated and imposing Brouilly. Such a beautiful silky texture it’s hard to tear yourself away! Keeps pumping out the fruit at the very long, intense finish. Should age extremely well. Drink or hold.

Château de la Chaize is one of the oldest, most historic estates in Burgundy's Beaujolais region. Boasting over 250 acres of land, it is also one of the largest. This stunning property – designated an Historic Monument in 1972 – was designed by Mansard, with gardens by Lenotre, designers of the Palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Organic

94 points James Suckling
Very well structured, yet restrained and elegant with a cool and delicate personality for the warm vintage, this is a really striking Fleurie. I love the interplay of sour cherry fruit with fine tannins on the concentrated, yet sleek and focused palate. Slowly expands in the glass as it aerates. Very long, seriously elegant finish. Drink or hold.

93 points Wine Advocate
A particular success, the 2020 Fleurie Clos de la Chapelle des Bois wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, rose petals, orange oil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and fine-boned, it's elegant and seamless, with bright acids and a long, saline finish.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
A single-vineyard wine, this is well balanced. It is full of juicy black fruits, with acidity and a solid backdrop. The taut texture indicates aging potential. Drink from 2024.

Château de la Chaize is one of the oldest, most historic estates in Burgundy's Beaujolais region. Boasting over 250 acres of land, it is also one of the largest. This stunning property – designated an Historic Monument in 1972 – was designed by Mansard, with gardens by Lenotre, designers of the Palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Organic

93 points Jeb Dunnuck
Not yet bottled, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is liquid Provence in a bottle, offering a massive nose of mulled red and black cherries, peppery garrigue, leather, and smoked meat-like aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, it has solid overall balance, a meaty, mouth-filling texture, and enough tannins to warrant short-term cellaring. The blend is 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest a mix of varieties, and this cuvée will spend two years in foudre before bottling.

Plush and rich-tasting, with finely interwoven flavors of dark cherry, plum tart and blackberry accented by cocoa powder notes.

Organic / Biodynamic

95 points James Suckling
This is so crunchy and refined, with beautiful fresh strawberry, orange peel, citrus, flint and slate aromas. Medium-bodied, crisp and clean, with just a hint of tannin at the end.

93 points Decanter
The Bohan Dillon Pinot Noir is Hirsch's gateway to their lineup. As the 'entry-level' wine in the portfolio, this bottling outshines many everyday Pinots. It blends two coastal sites—Hirsch and Hellenthal—and an inland vineyard, Heintz. As a result, you get a wine that expresses both regions' characteristics. The 2023 vintage shows a light ruby colour in the glass that matches the wine aromatics, leading into elegantly effortless notes of juicy red berries, soft, sweet florals, and a whisper of coastal herbs—nothing overpowers. On the palate, a touch of minerality meets tart cranberries and fresh raspberries, all lifted by well-integrated, mouthwatering acidity. Made to be drunk young, this easy medium-bodied Pinot is a go-to for a roasted chicken dinner or a pizza night.

90 points Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir The Bohan-Dillon is a very pretty, understated offering from Hirsch. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red-toned fruit, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and dried herbs. This mid-weight Pinot is all charm. Those qualities are best enjoyed over the next handful of years. Organic / Biodynamic

43% Hirsch Vineyards (Fort Ross-Seaview AVA), 22% Hellenthal Vineyard (which is contiguous with Block 9 at Hirsch); 35% Charles Heintz Vineyard (Sonoma Coast). 93% of the vines are between 20-30-years old.

Bohan-Dillon is inspired by the great village wines of Burgundy. Hand-harvested. Fermented in small open-top tanks and then aged in French oak, 32% new. 13.2% abv

Organic

92 points Wine Advocate
I also tasted the 2022 Vi??edos en Labastida. The wines are produced in a similar way to highlight the differences of the places and vintages. In 2022, it's a similar blend of different plots with some 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% white grapes, and it had a similar vinification and ??levage in 500- and 600-liter oak foudres in their cave. It's very primary and fruit-driven, with a nose of ripe berries and herbs, a lactic twist and a fine thread in the palate, with surprisingly fine tannins for a 2022. 3,600 bottles were filled in September 2023.

These are some of the most exciting new Riojas in the market.
Before modern or traditional Rioja, there was a simpler style of whole-cluster, co-fermented, and shortly-aged wines that were as naked and honest an expression of Rioja as one could find. So it's no surprise that Jos?? Gil followed in his ancestors' footsteps with focus in the vineyard rather than the cellar - which happens to be a cave in the outskirts of San Vicente.

Jose currently farms 5 hectares of vines located in the villages of San Vicente, Labastida, and Briones. Practices are manual and organic although he is not certified. The vines range in age from 5 to 130 years old with the majority Tempranillo, a small percentage of Viura. The oldest vineyard plots are co-planted with tiny percentages of other grape varieties which include Garnacha and Palomino. When the grapes reach the cellar after being harvested by hand, they are fermented either whole-cluster, or partially destemmed. All fermentations are by indigenous yeasts and extraction is gentle. After pressing the wines are racked into 225-300L French oak barrels and transported to the aging cellar in San Vicente.

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

93 points Wine Spectator
Richly savory on the nose, this fresh, sinewy red features a minerally underpinning of petrol, earth, iron and salt to the flavors of juicy dried cherry and cranberry, red licorice and mandarin orange peel. Opens nicely in the glass and on the palate, with the persistent finish showing aromatic herbs and spices, plus more mineral notes. Tempranillo, Garnacho, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2031.

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2011 Viña Tondonia Reserva is darker and shows riper fruit, a rounder palate and some dusty tannins. A year of ripeness, concentration and tannin, the wine is powerful with the finesse of Tondonia. Tasting this next to the textbook 2010 Tondonia revealed how this has more muscle and a wider back and the 2010 epitomizes the finesse and elegance. 270,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.

95 points Wine Advocate
The 2012 Via Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer levage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. 250,000 bottles produced.

95 points Vinous Media
The 2012 Via Tondonia is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, cultivated on the meander of the Ebro River in Rioja Alta. This garnet wine reveals aromas of ash and plum marmalade, with a faintly herbal core and hints of oaky cedar. Dry and lean, the fairly chalky texture lingers long, concluding with a compact, flavorful and lasting finish. The 2012 is a beautiful old-school Rioja.

Winemaker Notes:
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and transferred to upright tanks for a two-day cold soak. The wine saw 15 to 20 days of maceration time and was pumped over two to three times daily to build its round, elegant mouthfeel. Each lot was aged and evaluated separately, with the final blend taking place in May 2019. In total, the wine aged for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (29% new).

94 points James Suckling
Spicy oak to the black berries, blueberries and plums. Pretty fluid despite the medium to full body with nicely chewy tannins. Fine-grained, structured and long.

100% Single Vineyard Tempranillo; 21 months in barrel & 24 months in bottle

"Very deep colour; clean and bright. Intense cherry and purple glints. Very complex and elegant nose, red and black ripe fruits (cherry, mulberry) between complex tertiary aging aromas like liquorice, coffee, vanilla, roasted, leather and tobacco, with a characteristic mineral touch. Very elegant and velvety. With the same aromas founded in nose, complex. Ripe fruit, coffee, liquorice, leather, wood and roasted." Winemaker Notes

Organic / Biodynamic

95 points Vinous
The 2022 Eneo is superb. Rich and expansive on the palate, the 2022 offers up an exotic melange of black cherry, plum, leather, licorice, incense and espresso. There’s gorgeous mid-palate depth and plenty of textural richness, but in the more restrained style that informs these wines today. The long, silky finish is pure class.

45% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 15% Alicante and 5% Marselan

Dave Phinney's new red blend! If you like the Prisoner you are going to love this!!!

A mix of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache. Mixed raspberries, blackberries and blueberries appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, ripe and supple, yet with just enough softly dusty tannins, a velvety texture and no suggestion of raisined fruit. With its amiable nature and fresh, lingering finish, it should win lots of fans.

#19 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2025

94 points Wine Spectator
Capturing the essence of Willamette Valley, this Pinot is elegantly structured and vibrant with acidity yet plush and polished. Flavors of raspberry and cherry are accented by orange peel, floral tea and spices as this glides along the vibrant finish. Drink now through 2032.

96 points Vinous
The 2023 El Rapolao Lomas de Valtuille is a Mencía from a centenary vineyard in Bierzo that is trained from head to trellis. It fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged for up to 11 months in barrel. This is direct, offering pomegranate, cherry, violet, rosehip and a hint of mint that refreshes the bouquet. It is juicy and tense, with fine, slightly dry tannins delivering freshness and energy. The finish is compact and marked by the stem character.

96+ points Wine Enthusiast - Cellar Selection
The densely packed nose of this legendary old-vine field blend of Zin, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante gives aromas of crushed blackberry, purple flowers and rich earthy spices. The palate brings black cherry, olive and licorice flavors in a framework of opulent tannin that will age effortlessly for more than a decade.

95 points Decanter
Committed to both sustainable and organic farming practices, Ridges
pre-industrial approach lends its sensibility to field blends made from old, timehonored vines. Leading the Sonoma County blend is Zinfandel, Californias quintessential heritage grape, along with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet. Hand-harvested, co-fermented, then thoughtfully aged in American oak, the ruby hues with purple reflections follow with a bramble of wild berries, violet, sarsaparilla, fennel, and mint on the nose. An energized mouthfeel of blackberries, cherry cola, dried herbs, and cocoa-covered coffee beans, drive this lush and juicy field blend to a long lifted finish.

95 points James Suckling
This is the kingpin of Ridge's Sonoma County heritage blends and it doesn't dissapoint. Equal parts fruity, spicy and savory on a full body braced by moderate tannins. Judicious oak spices like cedar and cigar box complement pure, ripe blackberries and raspberries and a dash of black pepper. Known to age well for decades. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.

95 points Wine Spectator
Like a beast that's been tamed, this red is genteel and polished on the outside but dark and fervent deep down, with expressive flavors of blackberry, briar patch, savory anise and pepper. Drink now through 2035.

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Lytton Springs 50th Anniversary is composed of 67% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane and 3% Alicante Bouschet. It opens with initial touches of glossy new American oakdill and toasted coconutand gives way to kaleidoscopic black and red plums, cherries and berries, plus accents of hibiscus and potpourri. The full-bodied palate features generous, spicy flavors. Its structured by abundant, powdery tannins and lively acidity and has a long, detailed finish. Winemaker Shauna Rosenblum says this 2022 was crafted using only American oak, a shift from the blend of French and American oak used in the past. It has resulted in a particularly pure, transparent expression that opens dramatically with air, and this 2022 Lytton Springs will benefit from several years in the cellar.

94 points Vinous Media
The 2022 Lytton Springs 50th Anniversary is a characterful edition of this classic Cuve, notable for its levage in only American oak. Exuberant cherry/berry fruit and licorice meet with grilled herbs, tanned leather, banilla and dill, all energized by juicy acidity. This is a large-scale wine that will certainly stand the test of time. The clarity and precision here are commendable, especially packaged in such a broad-shouldered frame. Fabulous.

Organic

92 points Vinous
The 2019 Langhe Rosso is fabulous. It captures all the pedigree of this great vintage but in a slightly more open style (especially in its aromatics) that renders it quite approachable. Crushed flowers, dried cherry, spice, mint and sweet pipe tobacco are all nicely lifted. Already quite approachable, the 2019 is ready to go. The 2019 is Pira's young vines Nebbiolo. About two-thirds of the fruit is from Pira; the rest is Albesani, Gallina and Paje. Aging is a bit more than two years in cask, a touch less than in the past.

94 pts Wine Advocate
The pale, translucent, ethereal and perfumed 2019 Finca Xabrega was produced with a field blend of 90% Mencía, 10% Garnacha Tintorera and some white grapes from a single vineyard planted with old vines on granite and mica soils. The destemmed grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts and soft pigéage in stainless steel, then the wine matured in barrel for three months, followed by six months in tank to settle before bottling. It's very, clean, elegant, precise and subtle with great freshness and balance and only 12.5% alcohol. Ethereal, beautiful juice. Only 912 bottles were filled in July 2020.

50+ year old vines and only 0.8 hectares

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is exuberant and expressive, with a bounty of wild bramble berry fruits alongside lifted floral notes of lavender and violet. There are also warmer spiced notes of Crème brûlée, allspice and black pepper, a nod from the seamless oak integration. On the palate, juicy cassis, black currant and blackberry are supported by hints of delicate red rose, brown butter and bittersweet chocolate, giving this Cabernet a rich depth and complexity. Cocoa-powdery tannins provide a pleasurable mouth coating texture, all enfolding into a lengthy mouthwatering finish. Very approachable and pleasing upon release, this wine is sure to impress and pair well alongside many culinary dishes.

This is a blend of 40% Malbec, 27% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Mourvedre, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Together, they work to offer inviting elements of baking spice, cherry vanilla and a creamy palate of integrated tannins and toasted oak. The fleshy, lush feel benefits from a fresh backbone of acidity.