Wines

This is another stellar set of Champagne from Christophe Baron. The 2018s are simply lights out. Readers will note the addition of a new wine in this range, the Closeaux, which rounds out the collection of four pure Meunier Champagnes, all bottled in magnum only. Mignon and his cousins practice a decidedly Burgundian approach to winemaking. The wines are fermented in 600L Taransaud demi-muids (25% new), with heavy lees stirring, an approach Baron favors for building the wines, especially on the mid-palate and that allows for bottling with no dosage. As for 2018, Baron calls it a typical modern vintage for Champagne marked by climate change. “You better get used to it, because this is the future!” he told me emphatically. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

This is another stellar set of Champagne from Christophe Baron. The 2018s are simply lights out. Readers will note the addition of a new wine in this range, the Closeaux, which rounds out the collection of four pure Meunier Champagnes, all bottled in magnum only. Mignon and his cousins practice a decidedly Burgundian approach to winemaking. The wines are fermented in 600L Taransaud demi-muids (25% new), with heavy lees stirring, an approach Baron favors for building the wines, especially on the mid-palate and that allows for bottling with no dosage. As for 2018, Baron calls it a typical modern vintage for Champagne marked by climate change. “You better get used to it, because this is the future!” he told me emphatically. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

This is another stellar set of Champagne from Christophe Baron. The 2018s are simply lights out. Readers will note the addition of a new wine in this range, the Closeaux, which rounds out the collection of four pure Meunier Champagnes, all bottled in magnum only. Mignon and his cousins practice a decidedly Burgundian approach to winemaking. The wines are fermented in 600L Taransaud demi-muids (25% new), with heavy lees stirring, an approach Baron favors for building the wines, especially on the mid-palate and that allows for bottling with no dosage. As for 2018, Baron calls it a typical modern vintage for Champagne marked by climate change. “You better get used to it, because this is the future!” he told me emphatically. - Antoni Galloni, Vinous Media

94 Points! The 2018 L'Etoile Savagnin matured in un-topped-up barrels for some three years. It was a very warm vintage with low yields and concentrated wines (14.5% alcohol) pungent and persistent. This matured in an aboveground and slightly warmer cellar and was not matured in foudre (only in barrels), because they had a lot of Chardonnay; so that might be the reason why there's a more pungent smokiness. 3,078 bottles were filled in April 2023. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! The 2018 Grand Cru Hengst Riesling blends all the six parcels that were picked between September 28 and October 9 and vinified them in cask until the bottling in early July 2019. The wine is very intense, fresh and pure on the complex, lemony and still phenolic nose. Full-bodied, rich and very elegant on the palate, this is a lush but refined and sustainably saline Hengst with grapefruit bitterness and a long and promising finish. This is a powerful and age-worthy Riesling of great complexity even if not generosity in terms of perfect ripeness. 13.3% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2022. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

Owner/winemaker Stephen Searle's 'day job' is as winemaker at Jaffurs but he gets to make a few cases on the side of some terrific Rhone-inspired wines. The Cuvee Amiliana is a 50/50 Grenache Blanc and Viognier blend from a biodynamic vineyard in Alisos Canyon.

94 Points! The 2018 Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc just about always delivers incredible quality, and it sells for a fraction of the single vineyard releases. Classic Hermitage notes of buttered citrus, honeysuckle, acacia flowers, and spice all flow from this richer, beautifully textured, balanced Hermitage that has enough density and depth to keep for 10-15 years or more. It's well worth seeking out and I'd be happy with a case in the cellar. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Lovely, with a mix of fresh and dried peach, yellow apple and quince flavors, along with honeysuckle, salted butter and heather notes. The long finish has a nice tease of quinine for contrast amid the fruit. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! Although technically a non-vintage wine—you won't find the vintage on the label—the 2018 Tradition Sparkling Wine is composed mainly of Pinot Noir (30%) and Chardonnay (70%) from the 2018 vintage, blended with 6.5% perpetual cuvée. Grapes come from several vineyards including Keefer Ranch, Alder Springs, Linda Vista and Rorick. It was fermented in barrel and about 20% stainless steel and spent 28 months on the lees before being disgorged without dosage. It has layered, singular aromas of bruised apples, lemon candy, sour cream and flint with honeyed bass tones. The medium-bodied palate is dry with a creamy texture and tangy acidity, offering a compelling interplay of ripe fruit and honey-nut tones. It has a flinty streak and a touch of phenolic texture that draws out its long finish. - Erin Brooks, robertparker.com

92 Points! From holdings at the top of the slope, exposed to the west, the 2018 Mâcon-Verzé unwinds in the glass with notes of pear, confit lemon, white flowers, warm bread and clear honey. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, it's fleshy and elegant, with a seamlessly layered mid-palate, bright acids and a saline finish. - William Kelley, robertparker.com