Wines

92 Points! This wine offers a basket of fresh berries, together with vanilla, chocolate and crushed stones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and ripe, juicy fruit on the palate. Soft and mellow with a delicious, fruity finish. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Stainless-fermented with several hours of skin contact, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Paysan Zabala Vineyard is made from some traditional clones and some Musque clone. Light-bodied, it is a sublimely textured, herbaceous, and pretty wine with breadth and depth. Drink now. - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

92 Points! The 2018 Soave Classico Foscarino is honeyed and perfumed, featuring crushed yellow apples, exotic florals, hints of ginger and sweet smoke. The textures are soft with a twang of zesty acids that pinch at the cheeks, even as ripe orchard fruits soothe the palate. There’s a richness here, mixed with savory brown spices that add further contrasts, as this tapers off dry, with hints of hazelnut and an air of inner florals that seem to linger for well over a minute. The Foscarino is Inama’s throwback style of Soave, which macerates up to 12 hours and then spends six months in used barrels on the lees, followed by another six months in stainless steel. It’s quite unique and really keeps you guessing at what awaits each time you come back to the glass. Consider me a fan. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

94 Points! This has a rather restrained nose of smoked almonds, waxed lemon and pear skin with white-pepper notes. It’s medium-bodied and delicious with layers of stone fruit, crushed shells and nuts. Spice on the finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Cherry, cassis and pine notes mark the nose of the 2018 Andosol, a blend of 80% Zinfandel and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Matured largely in tank and foudre, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, framed by silky tannins, then finishes long and bright, with plenty of red fruit and mouthwatering acids. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

93 Points! A firm and polished red with cranberry, blackberry and crushed stone character. It’s clear and bright with a darkness and tension. Shows flowers and spices at the end with some dried potpourri and peppercorn. From vineyards in Howell Mountain. Aged three years in cask. A blend of Zinfandel, 20% cabernet sauvignon, and 5% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Olives, grilled herbs, blackberries, black cherries and porcini mushrooms on the nose. Dried lemons, too. Medium-bodied with a juicy, ripe and fleshy palate. Sangiovese, colorino, ciliegiolo, canaiolo, malvasia and trebbiano. Delicious now. - JamesSuckling.com

92+ Points! The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel du Cheval Vineyard offers similar aromatics but more structure. This dense, full-flavored wine will offer peak drinking from 2015 to 2030. - Jay Miller, robertparker.com

The classic 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Tradition (95% Grenache and 5% Syrah) from Jean-Marie Royer reveals a vivid ruby hue as well as a beautiful nose of fresh raspberries, spring flowers, and Provençal spices. It's medium-bodied, supple, juicy, and elegant. It should be an outstanding wine and is a terrific example of the style – and quality – of the vintage. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! A tasting of the four main parts (Les Challaix, Le Clos, La Dardouille and Bachasson) suggests that this will be a vintage that combines power – black fruits and thick tannins from La Dardouille – and more lifted, fleshy, fragrant, low acid elements from Les Challaix, plus Bachasson's rose and raspberry. A little richer and more velvety than a typical year. - Decanter Magazine

94 Points! Leading off the 2022s, gorgeous red and black fruits, spice, pepper, and bouquet garni define the 2022 Saint Joseph. Very focused and layered on the palate, it shows medium to full-bodied richness and elegant tannins. It's very much in the sunny yet structured style of the vintage and will have 10-12 years of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2037. - Jeb Dunnuck

92-94 Points! I tasted numerous components that will form the final blend of the 2022 Saint-Joseph. Ripe red and blue fruits usher in, complemented by licorice, violets, cedar and pencil shaving elements. Medium-bodied, juicy and refined, all 2022 samples display wonderful freshness within an intricate web of polished tannins. If all continues down this path, this will be a terrific Saint-Joseph. - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media

92 Points! Bottled in September, the 2021 Côte Rôtie reveals a healthy ruby hue to go with a beautiful and classic Jamet nose of ripe red and black fruits, peppery herbs, menthol, spring flowers, and subtle meaty nuances. Fermented with 90% whole clusters, it's medium-bodied, has a focused, elegant, seamless texture, and outstanding length. This delicate, seamless, perfumed Jamet will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points Decanter
"Wonderful fragrance with ripe black fruit and wild purple flowers. Fresh, lively, and mouthwatering, with freshly picked strawberry fruit, chalky minerality, mint, anise, slate, and flint. Velvety and creamy in texture, yet remarkably fresh and energetic."

92-94 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"Black raspberry, cassis, graphite, sappy flowers, and chalky minerality emerge from the glass. Beautifully balanced and elegantly textured, with polished tannins and impressive finesse. Another brilliant wine from the Bécot family that readers should snatch up."

92-94 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Flowers, licorice, dark cherries, and a hint of truffle create the perfume. Medium-bodied and loaded with sweet, creamy black cherries, plums, and chocolate. Produced from some of the oldest vines in the appellation, dating back to 1870."

92-94 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"The 2025 Joanin-Bécot is fabulous. Dark and sumptuous, with gorgeous fruit purity and remarkable textural presence. Inky dark fruit, spice, leather, dried flowers, and lavender unfold into a resonant, expansive finish. A stellar Joanin-Bécot."

91-93 Points Wine Advocate
"Another sleeper of the vintage. Aromas of iris, lilac, dark berries, and flowers lead into a juicy, enveloping palate with vibrant energy and an ethereal floral finish."

91-93 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown
"Juicy blueberries and black raspberries are accented by anise, mint tea, and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with chalky tannins, refreshing acidity, and exuberant fruit."

91 Points Jane Anson
"Vivid violet, red cherry, saffron, anis, lemongrass, and slate. A wine with tremendous definition that clearly reflects its high-altitude terroir and ongoing vineyard renaissance."

90-92 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"Blackcurrant pastille and raspberry aromas with impressive precision. Medium-bodied and linear, with fine sapidity, cracked black pepper notes, and an expressive Cabernet Franc component."

92 Points! The combination of forthright fresh-nut aromas, animating freshness and a well-rounded, medium body make this a satisfying dry white. Surprisingly crisp and well-structured finish. Still very youthful. A cuvee of pinot blanc, chardonnay and neuburger. Vegan. Sustainable. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! The 2020 Marsannay Clos de Jeu has turned out especially well, offering up aromas of sweet cherries, mulberries, licorice and toasty new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate that's deep and vibrant, with powdery tannins and a precise finish. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

91+ Points! Sourced from the upper part of the vineyard, the 2014 Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain is rich, ripe and concentrated on the nose, though still closed. Rich, round and intense on the palate, this is a very firmly structured but also finessed Riesling that indicates an enormous ripeness and power; but it should be aged for another couple of years. Picked at the 9th of October, so a week later than the regular Hengst. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

92 Points! The Klein Constantia 2023 Constantia Sauvignon Blanc is extremely linear and sharp with a mineral quality the persists throughout. Winemaker Matthew Day says it took him a long while to understand what the soils mean to this wine. He works with ancient decomposed granite and reddish sandstone from Table Mountain and along the riverbeds. With 42 blocks to choose fruit from, the blending possibilities are enormous. He can pinpoint the best blocks each year. He starts blending after the wine has seen six months in tank, but he wants to extend that to nine months. A salty marine theme is dominant, but the wine also offers white fruits and light floral nuances. A tiny part of declassified wine from oak may work its way into this blend, but you would never know. If you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc, as I do, I enthusiastically direct your attention here. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

95 Points! Kopke is the oldest of all the Port wine houses having been established in 1638. They produce outstanding tawnies (and aged whites) at all levels, up to and including a new 50 Year Old Tawny. Pale orange -amber in colour, this is gently toasted on the nose with lovely fresh citrus and dried fruit and smooth, savoury complexity on the finish. - Richard Mayson, Decanter Magazine

92 Points! Subtle, with a perfumy profile of cinnamon, powdered ginger, hazelnut husk and toasted sesame notes leading the way, backed by mouthwatering date and dried fig details and a lengthy finish. - Wine Spectator, 2018

92 Points! The 2024 Village Chardonnay had just been freshly bottled when I tasted it at the estate in Kumeu in March 2025. The other 2024 Chardonnays were tasted as tank samples prior to filtration and bottling soon. The wine leads with yellow citrus and crushed shells. It is texturally fine, sleek and tightly coiled around a core of salty acidity. It is complex but composed and very good. "2024 was a fantastic year, just very small," says Paul Brajkovich. "Weather during flowering wasn't good in spring in 2023," says Michael Brajkovich. "Ripening in 2024 was excellent, so we have a 40% down in yield but very high quality. The Village wine is a blend of Kumeu and Hawke's Bay [and is] a mixture of barrel and tank fermentation." - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

95 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

The 2022 L'Hetre is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that's from more limestone soils, with the élevage in 30% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. Gorgeous black raspberries, black truffle, tobacco, and damp earth are just some of the nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, ripe, chalky tannins, and a great finish.

93 Points | Decanter

Decanter finds chocolate, mint, blackcurrant and dried herbs leading into a smooth, supple palate with a juicy core and refreshing acidity. Salinity and spice add seriousness to the finish, while the fruit remains pure and the tannins beautifully integrated. They call it an “easy-to-enjoy beauty.”

92 Points | Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Galloni describes the 2022 as expressive, bold and punchy, with crushed flowers, mint, blood orange, sage and white pepper. What impresses him most is the wine's energy and vibrancy, with clean mineral notes driving the taut, mouthwatering finish.

94 Points! Cedar and green tobacco with berries, currants and lavender with some sandalwood. Medium-bodied with linear and firm tannins that give this energy and focus. Refined and polished texture. 79% merlot and 21% cabernet franc. Give this two or three years to soften. - JamesSuckling.com