Wines

From the winery: Our 2021 Pickberry Merlot comes from the firm, clay-based soils, about 600' up the northern slopes of Sonoma Mountain. Mother Nature pushed ripeness faster on us than in previous years, trading out lighter herbaceous notes of previous vintages for a focused fruit profile. The wines massive structure coupled with Pickberry's signature blue fruit and intense menthol notes is just right on.

91 Points! A full-bodied, juicy and chewy merlot. Tasty layers of chocolate, cherries, hazelnuts and olives wrapped up in ripe, broad tannins. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The young and tender 2022 Albariño is the blend of the grapes from 165 plots in the Salnés, fermented with a pied de cuve from the old vines, fermented in stainless steel and matured with lees. It has a balsamic nose with notes of grass and bay leaf, a round palate with pungent flavors and good acidity. It's clean and varietal, reflecting a warmer year. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

From the importer: The domaine’s top red wine is the cuvée Charles de Batz, which was the original name of d'Artignan. The wine is composed of 90% Tannat with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are between 50 and 100 years old. After being completely destemmed, the Cabernet and Tannat are fermented separately in cement tanks. During this time, a bit of micro-oxygenation or microboullage takes place. The wine then goes into oak (50% new) in an underground cellar where it also undergoes malolactic fermentation. After 12 months in wood, it is blended and bottled after a very light filtration.

Very ripe, rich Madiran that takes no prisoners. This wine succeeds in obtaining more fruit than tannin! The color is nearly opaque—wine doesn't get much darker than this. It displays notes of black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) along with just a hint of red fruit. There is a cedar-like creaminess to the oak which is extremely well-integrated. Tannins pick up on the finish but, let's face it, this is Madiran and that is to be expected. These tannins seem to dissolve when the wine is matched with richly flavored meats like leg of lamb, duck, goose or game.

100 Points! Wow. Fabulous aromas of currants, rosemary, mint and orange peel. Perfect nose. Full body with perfectly integrated tannins. It's long and incredible with tangerine, toasted-oak, berry, terracotta and chocolate flavors. It lasts for minutes on the palate. This needs at least five years to soften but so spellbinding now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The gentler 2022 Leirana reflects a warmer year of rounder wines and slightly lower acidity. They are increasing the amount of oak, and eventually, this could end up being 100% in (used and large) foudres, but the wines don't show any oak. They blended all the wines before they are put in foudre, and they feel it results in better integration of the wine. This represents the Salnés region of Rías Baixas with the salty and tasty marine and granite twist. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! The 2022 Cíes is a faithful reflection of the warmer year with rounder wines and more integrated acidity. It's tender and balanced, with a silky texture and a clean finish. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

91 Points! A bright lemon colour with green hues in the glass, this Albariño showcases bright fruit plus refreshing acidity. The fruit is lean: citrus, green fruit, then moving into stone fruit. Salinity and brininess on the palate call for seared scallops or shrimp. Any freshly grilled seafood with a squeeze of lemon would accentuate the wine’s acidity and make for a pleasant pairing. - Decanter Magazine

96 Points! The 2021 Sálvora is serious and austere, young and undeveloped, a wine of purity and precision. It comes from a very old vineyard in the village of Meaño, and unfortunately, the 2023 will be the last vintage of this wine because the vineyard will be expropriated. It has a vibrant palate with an intense finish, very salty and tasty. It has a moderate 12% alcohol with notable freshness but with the advantage of the time in bottle that gave it more complexity and nuance. It fermented and matured in 600-liter oak barrels for 12 months. 2,000 bottles produced. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

95-96 Points! Blackberry, hazelnut and chocolate, yet it remains reserved and focused. Full body with a solid core of fruit and fine tannins. Very classy. One of the best I have had. - James Suckling

93-95 Points! Quite floral in mature with a nice freshness to the red, pit fruits, the wine is supple, creamy, sweet and fresh. There is a lush quality to the silky fruits, as well as a a touch of spice, elegant-textures and a plummy, fruity-packed finish. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. 14.6% ABV, 3.7 pH. This is the best wine produced here in ages! Drink from 2026-2045. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 Points! From a 4.5-hectare vineyard on the plateau of Pomerol adjacent to Le Pin and one of La Fleur-Pétrus's parcels, Jean-Philippe Janoueix's 2022 La Croix St Georges is the first produced with the input of consultant Thomas Duclos. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, minty berries, licorice and vine smoke, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a seamless, complete profile and compelling purity of fruit. This has always been an immensely promising terroir, but now it really is an estate to watch. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

91-93 Points! Black raspberries, crushed stone, white flowers, and spice (I'd almost guess this was from limestone soils), the 2022 Château La Croix Saint Georges is medium-bodied, with a silky, elegant mouthfeel and a great finish. I love its purity and precision. - Jeb Dunnuck