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

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! Based on 80% Roussanne and 20% Clairette, the 2022 Ventoux Quintessence Blanc is raised in a mix of demi-muids and barrels, with a tiny portion being new. It has a beautiful nose of ripe orchard fruits (pear, sliced apples) as well as subtle white flowers and chalky minerality. Medium-bodied and concentrated, with a beautiful spine of acidity, it's a gorgeous white from this team that will shine on the dinner table. - Jeb Dunnuck

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

94 Points! A beautiful Merlot, the 2019 from PlumpJack offers everything you could want from this variety with its plump, fleshy, medium to full-bodied profile as well as terrific aromatics of black cherries, darker berries, leafy herbs, spring flowers, and a touch of chocolate. It’s ready to go yet should continue delivering the goods over the coming decade. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Extremely perfumed with violet and blueberry aromas that follow through to a full body with creamy, refined tannins. Wonderful depth, due to the compact fruit and vertical line of tannins. Black pepper to the dark fruit. Better in two or three years. Try after 2022. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Made from 100% Roussanne brought up in neutral puncheons, the 2018 Roussanne Stolpman Vineyards reveals a medium gold color as well as classic notes of poached orchard fruits, brioche, crushed rocks, white flowers, licorice, and toasted bread. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and brilliantly layered, it's another rich, textured white from this estate that stays balanced, light on its feet, and fresh. Bravo. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Arietta's 2018 Merlot Hudson Vineyard shows the cool, savory style of Carneros. Dried herbs, licorice, menthol, gravel and spice lend striking aromatic complexity throughout. This is an especially savory, nuanced style. The 2018 is a fabulous wine that will challenge readers' conceptions of what Napa Valley Merlot is all about. The Arietta wine emerges from the oldest vines Merlot vines at Hudson, planted in 1986. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media