Wines

The 2023 Ode to Lulu Rosé is composed of 76% Mourvèdre, 16% Syrah, and 8% Grenache, sourced predominantly from centenarian vineyards in Contra Costa and Sonoma County. Picked at lower potential alcohol and whole-cluster pressed, the goal here is to highlight the beautiful aromatics and freshness while also feeling the natural weight of old vine Mourvèdre. What we have always loved best about the great Mourvèdre-based rosés of the world (Bandol being the most famous) is how they capture the piquant pink grapefruit and stone fruit fragrance of the variety while also letting the savory tarragon and wild herb pungency shine through. If the red wines from the variety tend towards earthiness and a terrestrial (sometimes downright funky) character, the best rosés have lip-smacking deliciousness and are almost terrifying easy to drink while being capable of developing complexity in the glass. We are very pleased with the 2023 and feel it to be a worthy iteration of what is one of the most acclaimed rosés made in the Golden State.

93 Points! Equal parts Roussanne and Marsanne that was vinified in demi-muids, the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc has a pure, medium-bodied, impeccably made style as well as classic notes of honeyed stone fruits, quince, spice, and toast. I love its terrific purity and great overall balance. - Jeb Dunnuck

70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. The Grenache grapes are aged in stainless steel vats for 18 months, while the Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes are aged in 500L oak barrels for the same period. The wine is blended just before bottling.

From the winery: In this blend of four emblematic Provençal grape varietals, each plays a distinctive role: Grenache noir 65%, Syrah 15%, Cinsault 15% and Rolle 5%. Grenache contributes roundness, delicacy, and subtle aromas, while Syrah adds power and color. Cinsault, known for finesse and fruity notes, gently balances the strength provided by Grenache and Syrah. Rolle, the iconic white grape of Provence, introduces a touch of tension, freshness, and floral notes to complete this well-balanced blend. The grapes are pressed directly, followed by a cold alcoholic fermentation process. Vinification and maturation unfold in stainless steel tanks and concrete vats, meticulously preserving the freshness and natural aromas inherent in the terroir and grape varieties. Aging for several weeks on fine lees imparts complexity and smoothness to the wine, all the while upholding Roseblood’s signature elegance and delicacy.

92-94 Points! Deep magenta. High-toned cherry and blackberry aromas show very good clarity with black pepper and smoky mineral accents. Shows firm tension and a spicy cut to its gentle sweet red and dark berry, bitter chocolate and succulent herb flavors. Youthfully gripping tannins lend framework to a long, smoky finish that echoes the spice and floral notes. This is textbook Gigondas, raised in a combination of one-third concrete tanks and two-thirds large oak barrels, 20% of those new. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

94 Points! This rich and impeccably balanced Gigondas has everything we look for in the wines of this appellation. What a wide spectrum of aromas with everything from raspberry to candied orange, plus a slew of delicate spicy notes and fresh Mediterranean herbs. I love the interplay of richness, fine tannins and lively acidity on the generous, but not expansive palate. Very long, refined finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - Stuart Pigott, James Suckling

93 Points! Loads of spiced cherries, herbs, earth, licorice and some bark. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins. It’s textured and mellow with a rich core of berries at the center and herbs towards the serious finish. Mostly mourvedre, grenache and carignan. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2025. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! A dominant blend of grenache gris with notes of almonds, stones, herbs and fresh lemons on the nose following through to a medium body with vertical freshness. It’s precise and crisp with texture and poise. Fresh with some bitter almond character towards the lively, focused finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

80% Grenache, 20% Syrah from 45+ year-old vines!

96 Points! The 2021 Dits del Terra shows lower alcohol and more freshness, and it has an herbal note and feels very young and undeveloped. Like most of the 2021s, they shortened the time of aging, and it was completely in concrete and didn't touch any oak (they sold all the foudres). There's purity and precision, elegance and freshness. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

92+ Points! The ripe red 2018 Terra de Cuques is a 50/50 blend of Garnacha and Cariñena from different vineyards around the village of Torroja (there are some grapes from Poboleda, a cooler village) that fermented equal parts in stainless steel and concrete; it matured in concrete and foudres but with the intention to abandon the aging in oak in the near future. It has lots of notes of licorice and Mediterranean herbs, intermixed with ripe berries and very little impact from the oak. The palate is round and reveals abundant grainy tannins. This is a powerful Terra de Cuques. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

93+ Points! The very recently bottled 2021 Terra de Cuques Blanc was produced with 90% Pedro Ximénez and 10% Muscat with a moderate 13% alcohol, the minimum required by the appellation. It's serious, with good freshness, a little reductive at first but then more expressive with abundant notes of pollen and a honeyed touch, with a little skin contact that gives it character and some notes of quince and fine tannins. There's finesse and elegance and it's very clean. They have food in mind when they do the wines, so there is a constant search for freshness. There is a good demand for whites, and they sell everything, but the planting of white vineyards is limited. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! Subtle green spice and cement to the squeezed lemon and grapefruit, with a hint of nori-like umami. Dry, creamy and sleek, with medium to full body and lovely texture to the neutral fruit, though not lacking in substance. Very contained. Drink now or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

From the importer: After a fateful tasting at Can Roca followed by the tasting menu, Dominik Huber became convinced that not enough attention was being paid to white wines in the Priorat. Out of the dozen courses he had, only about three were suited to red wines so when he got back to Torroja he set about creating two new wines at Terroir al Limit – Terra de Cuques and Pedra de Guix. Naturally when Dominik launched Terroir Històric in 2015, the white wasn’t going to be an afterthought and it in fact represents half of his production. A blend of Garnatxa Blanca and Macabeu, the Terroir Historic Blanc is pressed whole cluster, and ferments and ages for 6 months in a 5000L concrete tank. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

92+ Points! The 2019 Terroir Históric is charming, approachable, round, open and expressive, with good ripeness and 14% alcohol, a juicy palate with a soft mouthfeel and round tannins. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

From the winery: 65% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 2% Petite Sirah from Ventana 42%, Alta Loma 23%, Chalk Knoll 18%, Loma del Rio 8%, Rick's 7%, and Sin Falta 2% vineyards.

A bouquet of ripe black and red fruits, the wine palate is full-bodied. It has a soft attack, but the sharp tannins that are drawn out in the aftertaste give it a perfect balance of “fullness and freshness.” This is a gourmet wine that maintains its presence when accompanying a spicy meal and also complements the most delicate of dishes.

Mourvèdre (15%), Syrah (25%), Grenache (60%) De-stemmed harvest, classic vinification with mid-fermentation pigeage and temperature-controlled fermentation (12 days).

92 Points! A terrific vintage for this wine, which was bottled just a couple of weeks prior to my late June visit, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a blend of 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus 10% Cinsault. From a vineyard just outside the boundaries of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it's a remarkably consistent wine and always a solid value. Scents of sunbaked stones, black cherries and licorice appear on the nose, joined by hints of purple raspberries and dark chocolate, while the medium to full-bodied palate is lush and velvety, finishing long and complex. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

93 Points! Moving to the 2020s from bottle, the 2020 Ventoux Quintessence is beauty revealing assorted blackberry and black raspberry-like fruits, some obvious chalky minerality, medium to full body, and a complex bouquet of violets, flowers, and spice. I love its purity, and it's going to age for 10-15 years in cold cellars. - Jeb Dunnuck