Wines

95 Points! This shows dark fruit with floral notes of violets and a hint of graphite. Medium- to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins, dark fruit character and a long, deep, persistent finish. This comes exclusively from vineyards planted in the village of Abalos. Drink now or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93+ Points! The serious and austere new 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Ábalos was produced with grapes on marl and limestone from the Marqués de Legarda, who is mentioned on the label. It's a blend of 73% Tempranillo, 17% Graciano, 6% Garnacha and 4% other varieties, presented in a straight Bordeaux bottle. It reflects more the character of Haro than the Rioja Alavesa, wines with more Graciano. It's medium to full-bodied with 14.17% alcohol and has fine-grained, chalky tannins. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

93+ Points! Rivas de Tereso are parishes of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, but the difference with the 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Rivas de Tereso is that the vineyards are at higher altitude and the percentage of Garnacha is much higher here (38%), so there's more mountain character and more herbal notes in the wine. It has 57% Tempranillo and some 5% other varieties. Despite a moderate 13.95% alcohol, the nose shows good ripeness, and there is some wilderness here, perhaps a little more rusticity too. The soils are very stony and rich in limestone, and the altitude gives the wine an austere twist. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! Pretty profound nose with crushed stones, dried herbs and crushed blueberries. Dissolved, fine-grained tannins here with a full body and a lengthy, tightly wound finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Sleek and expressive, with vibrant cherry and pomegranate flavors that take on rose petal and spiced tea accents as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Made since 2001 from a number of Sonoma County vineyards, the 2023 Three Valleys blends 71% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% each Mataro and Alicante Bouschet from Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Russian River Valley. Floral, it is complex and less rustic than usual, the vintage showing classic charm and elegance. Though it is one of Ridge's largest production wines, it is made in the exact same way as all its others, in open top tanks with real oak and native fermentations. It's meant to represent a vintage more than a location. A popular by-the-glass pour, order it when you see it. It's drinking well now and should continue to for another 5-7 years. - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

93 Points! Generous and robust yet retains a sense of polish, with expressive raspberry and blueberry flavors highlighted by licorice and pepper, plus a whiff of dill as this builds toward fine-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Mataro and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2034. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Aromas of confit cherries, licorice, blackberry bush, baking spices and violets. The palate is full-bodied with a rounded mouthfeel and firmly framed tannins that end in a lush and generous finish. Made from a blend of 71% zinfandel, 16% carignane, 9% petite sirah, 2% mataro and 2% alicante bouschet. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard, from a site on the Oakville bench, is the richest of these 2009 Cabernets from Rivers-Marie. It bursts from the glass with jammy, opulent fruit and a big, full-bodied personality. Blue and black fruit, mint, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the finish. The 100% new oak comes through here. I am not sure this wine needs all the oak and makeup. There is plenty of pedigree already. - Antonio Galloni, robertparker.com

93 Points! A medium sweet Spätlese from the Rheingau icon Weil. This late-picked Riesling shows the ethereal clarity and power the variety can have. This wine is an assemblage of some of the estate's top vineyards blended with fruit from surrounding non-Grosse Lagen sites. It has charming aromatics, rich pear, Meyer lemon, and beguiling floral spice. The palate balances viscosity and ripeness with juicy, mouthwatering acidity. The lack of botrytis and the sterling minerality clarify this affordable bottling. The flavour of sweet peaches, honeyed apricots and lush, fleshy citrus are buoyed by a racy, edgy acidity that carries the finish. - Clive Pursehouse, Decanter

93 Points! The 2023 Chianti Classico is fabulous. Rich and layered in the glass, the 2023 impresses with its purity and exceptional balance. Strong spice, leather and tobaco notes run through a core of red Sangiovese fruit. All the elements are so well balanced. Dollops of Canaiolo and Colorino are so well put together. This is a sublime wine. Truly exceptional. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

93 Points! This entry-level blaufrankisch has a stunning depth of black-cherry fruit plus a breathtaking vitality on the medium-bodied palate. Fantastic precision in the long, fresh and mineral finish. From young vines (up to 25 years) in St. Margarethen plus amounts from Donnerskirchen and Mullendorf. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points, Wine Spectator's #2 Wine Value of 2025! Marking the first vintage for former winemaker Michael Coode, the 2022 is supple and elegantly structured. Coode fermented the juice in tanks, with twice-daily pump-overs, and then aged the wine for 14 months in a combination of new and used French oak. - Wine Spectator

93 Points, Wine Spectator's #25 Wine of the Year for 2024! Supple and sleek, with elegantly layered red currant, toasty mocha and tarragon flavors that glide on a long finish. Drink now through 2031. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Orange peel and fruit with chocolate. Medium-bodied with round and polished tannins. Very pretty fruit and finesse. So pretty. Drink or hold. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

93 Points!  Cooler soils can be a little austere in this structured vintage of 2020, and you'll find angular tannins on the opening beats, speaking of the limestone, along with salinity, energy and clear purity of blueberry and raspberry fruit. Lovely, a lyrical take on St Emilion limestone from the Durantou family, Olivier Gautrat director. The first year with Noemie Durantou as winemaker, having taken over from her late father Denis. Cellar master Olivier Gautrat. - Jane Anson

93 Points! I found the 2022 Chardonnay Zotovich Vineyard to be the highlight of Samsara's Chardonnay roster. Half the grapes were foot-trodden before pressing, contributing a subtle phenolic grip throughout the wine that provides welcome tension and mid-palate assertion for this sandy vineyard site. Aromas of orange oil and Asian pear introduce the lively, clean palate, which straddles focus and weight before concluding with a pleasantly grippy, saline and energetic finish. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2022 Chardonnay Zotovich Vineyard is also exotic, with orange blossom, ripe citrus, spice, and sappy herb notes in a medium-bodied, racy, focused style on the palate. It's going to evolve nicely for 7-8 years or more. There are a tiny 250 cases, but it’s a beauty. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Expressive and expansive nose of fresh plums, cherries, cloves, nutmeg, flowers and sandalwood. It’s so transparent and vibrant, with a medium to full body and fine, tight tannins. Gorgeous fruit. From organically grown grapes. Try from 2024. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The San Polo 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Podernovi shows a very earthy side that evokes savory spice, smoke and gamey aromas. The core of this organic wine is colored by black fruit and baked plum, but the wine is primarily driven by the aromas it has picked up during oak and bottle aging. This adds a medium-heavy constitution and a good amount of warm-vintage fruit weight for a Sangiovese. The wine also has an accessible character that makes it best to drink over the next 10 years. The fruit represents a selection from over two hectares. - Monica Larner robertparker.com

96+ Points! 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! - Jeb Dunnuck

93-95 Points! The 2021 Sansonnet is once again a stand out. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, chocolate, new leather, licorice and espresso give this large-scaled Saint-Émilion tons of depth. As always, Sansonnet is an extrovert, but in 2021 it benefits from a kick of acidity that balances things out nicely. It was impressive both times I tasted it. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94 Points! Excellent freshness and depth here with ripe but very vibrant berries. Spices, cigar box, black chocolate and incense, too. Quite juicy and bright on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Tannins are fresh and polished. Long and expressive finish. There is a “modern” touch here that gives a sense of restrained plushness to the vibrancy. Better from 2024. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is another beautiful wine. Ripe cherries, blueberries, rose petals, spice, and hints of spring flowers all emerge on the nose, and it shines on the palate for its beautiful elegance and purity. Medium to full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins and notable freshness, it's going to evolve for 15 years with no issues. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! A gorgeous entry-level offering, the 2016 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) captures all the natural exuberance of the Russian River. Black cherry, cola, spice, lavender, licorice and cloves are all amped up in this boisterous, juicy Pinot. Here, too, the presence of slightly mature notes makes the 2016 so rewarding to drink now.

This might very well be the best set of wines I have ever tasted from Fred Scherrer. The 2016 Pinots and Cabernets in particular are superb. Scherrer releases his wines a bit later than most, so readers will find wines that show a good bit of bottle complexity and are largely ready to drink. As always, the wines are done in a style that prizes structure and energy over lushness or immediacy. Ideally, these are wines that are best enjoyed over many hours. I can't recommend these new releases highly enough. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

93 Points! Attractive aromas of waxy lemons, sliced apples and savory herbs lead to a medium- to full-bodied palate that is layered and textured, showcasing a sleek, lightly oily mouthfeel and vibrant acidity. Flavorful and persistent, it balances richness with elegance. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com