A slope (un talud) leading up to a mountain where centuries of rock falls have left the soil beneath full of large angular rocks, and therefore useless for most agriculture. Deposited hugger-mugger amongst the clay and sand however, they offer perfect drainage and allow vines to grow, forcing their roots ever downwards in search of water, picking up minerals along the way. If you wanted to explain to someone what Cabernet Sauvignon tasted like, you could do a lot worse than showing them this beautiful expression of the variety which demonstrates great purity, concentration and elegance.
Review:
Talud is from the oldest cabernet sauvignon vineyards on Tabalí’s estate in the coastal Maipo zone, 50 kilometers from the Pacific, planted in 1999. The soils are colluvial, which often deliver firm, pointed tannins, and those are present here, but they’re very nicely accompanied by juicy red fruit and bright acidity that allows this wine to put its fresh, vibrant facet in the foreground. Take note, however, there are deep, dense flavors here. It’s still a very young cabernet, so make room in the cellar.
-Patricio Tapia - Descorchados 95 Points
Tenute Silvio Nardi Rosso di Montalcino is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
Intense ruby red color. Aromas characterized by hints of ripe red fruits, and hints of spices. On the palate it is warm, soft, and full with strong but velvety integrated tannins. Good persistence.
Pairs with meat, cheese, and game.
Torello Corpinnat Finca Can Marti Brut 32% Chardonnay, 32% Xarel.lo, 22% Macabeo and 14% Parellada.
The Can Martí estate soils have been formed from sediments from the Garraf Massis, deposited thousands of years ago. One of the most characteristic features of the estate’s soils is the presence of accumulations of calcium carbonate.The movement of water through the soil dissolves the carbonates present and takes them to a certain depth. The continuous repetition of this process has ended up producing the accumulation of these deposits.When these become massive, after thousands of years, they bind together and and form a hard stratum called a petrocalcic horizon. This hard stratum limits the availbility of water to the vine and the production, but is a factor that gives the grape quality.
Straw yellow color, fine and constant bubbles, clean and bright, with golden reflections. The nose reveals a subtle aromatic intensity with fresh and sweet aromas. Honey flowers, citrus notes, white fruit, and balsamic herbs such as fennel.
In the mouth the acidity is well balanced, with delicate bitter notes to the finish and a set of ripe fruits and balsamic nuances.
Tours de Laroque Saint Emilion is made from 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.
Les Tours de Laroque Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is the second wine from Chateau Laroque, a selection of over 50 year-old vines that shows finesse, purity and authenticity of this great terroir.
The wine is particularly attractive and approachable when young with its bright, floral and spicy character. It is elegant and velvety, has a fresh salinity and a noble texture, and offers good acidity with firm tannins.
Review:
"Lots of dark chocolate on the nose with blueberries, ripe blackberries, plums, dried lavender, toast and mahogany. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Needs time to soften. Try in 2025."
- James Suckling (January 2022), 91 pts
Trione Zinfandel Flatridge Ranch is made from 100 percent Zinfandel.
Aromas of briarwood and pipe tobacco give way to blackberry pie, toasted macaroons and plums. The wine is velvety, supple and rich with a long, satisfying finish. This Zinfandel, a Sonoma County classic, will continue to age for many years to come.
Flatridge Ranch is a secluded parcel in the Coastal mountain range, west of the Rockpile AVA. Here the Trione family planted a 10 acre vineyard in 2008. The vines are a unique Zinfandel selection called Saint Peter’s Church, whose provenance is a 100-year-old block in Cloverdale, a small town north of our Geyserville winery. The 2013 vintage was a perfect growing season.
Cases produced: 575
Winemaking: We fermented the grapes in small, open top fermenters, hand plunging the cap three-four times daily. The wine aged 18 months in American oak barrels, 40% new.
Trouillet Lebeau Pouilly-Loche Les Mures is made from 100% Chardonnay.
Pouilly Loché is the smallest appellation in the Mâconnais (33 hectares). The climate called "Les Mures" is located on a hillside, facing east, overlooking the Saône Valley at an altitude of 250 meters, in the village of Loché, 5 kilometers south-east of Mâcon. Loché has been a site devoted to vines since the Roman times. Excavations during the construction of the TGV station, which puts this vineyard 1 hour 40 minutes from Paris and Geneva, revealed the foundations of a large villa. Thereafter, the vine flourished under the influence of the monks of Cluny, who are reminded of the magnificent 12th century octagonal bell tower behind which the rocks of Solutré and Vergisson stand out.
The wine offers delicate and precise aromas of ripe yellow fruits. Dense, fleshy and fruity in the mouth with a fresh menthol finish.
Harmonious Bordeaux-style blend with bold red fruit aromas of black cherry, currant, and blackberries. Balanced with subtle notes of cocoa and spice. Enjoy with soft cheeses, such as brie or goat. Terrific with lamb, aged beef, rustic stews, and mushrooms.
The grapes for this wine were grown in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, where soils are transitional from gravel to silty clay loam. The climate is moderate to cool with marine air until mid-morning and frequent late afternoon breezes that maintain cooler temperatures and ensure a longer growing season. Chardonnay from this region showcase flavors of crisp apple, mineral notes and tropical fruit with good acidity.
Aromas of lemon curd, sweet butter, brioche and sun-ripened peach mingle with notes of nutmeg and vanilla bean. The palate is creamy, with zesty lemon overtones and minerality persisting on the finish.
Weinkeller Erbach Pinot Noir is made out of 100% Pinot Noir.
Hand picked selected grapes of our best Pinot Noir vineyards.
Delicate flavor and taste of prune, pepper, roasted coffee and vanilla. Perfectly balanced, ripe tannin structure with a long finish on the palate.
Hand Harvest.
Aged in oak barrels for 24 months.
Slightly filtered before bottling.
Pair with Steak, Prime Rib, Salsiccia.
Weller-Lehnert Piesporter Domherr Grosses Gewachs Riesling is made from 100 percent Riesling.
Made in accordance with the stringent production criteria of the classification of the Bernkasteler Ring, wines with the designation “Grosses Gewächs Bernkasteler Ring” represent the premium line of the association’s dry wines. These Grand Crus can only come from the best sites of the steep slopes and are distinguished by their exceptional aging potential. To be awarded the status of “Grosses Gewächs”, selective hand-harvesting, a restriction of yields to 50 hl/ha and the passing of a stringent sensory examination by a highly qualified professional panel are required.
Piesporter Domherr is the ancient and original Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. It lies in the heart of Piesporter Goldtröpfchen right by the Mosel River. It consists of 4 hectares that are south-southeast facing.
The locatio on the river creates a mirror effect, offering optimum conditions for the production of outstanding mineral wine with fine, fruity elegance. Because of its prolonged vegetation period, Riesling (frequently referred to as the “queen of white varieties”) is often capable of expressing the characteristics of its terroir like no other.
Arzuaga Ladera del Norte Ribera del Duero is made from 100% Tempranillo.
The grapes come from organic crops and are harvested from the "Valdesardon" farm, owned by the Arzuaga Navarro family, which is the westernmost vineyard of the Ribera del Duero DO, located at an altitude of 800 meters in the village of Olivares de Duero. Clay-limestone soil on a hillside that will mark the characteristics of the wine.
The wine is of medium high intensity in color, a clear and bright cherry with purple flashes. An array of red fruits such as raspberry and cherry predominates with a high aromatic intensity, combining with balsamic tones, coffee and roasted notes coming from the aging in oak barrels without being overwhelming. This is a fresh and elegant wine, with an easy and balanced entry into the mouth followed by juicy and chewy sensations. Slightly sweet and toasted notes, and a pleasant and balanced aftertaste that is reminiscent of the fruity aromas on the nose.
Ideal companion for red meat, white meat, game and game, roasted or in sauce. Blue fish and soft cheeses.
Review:
"Intense cherry color. Aromas of dried herbs, creamy oak, black fruits and lactic notes. In the mouth, ripe fruits, spices, fine tannins, full-bodied."
- Penin 2022, 92 pts
Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage Rouge Cuvee Nicolas is made from 100 percent Syrah.
Deep ruby red color. Nose of red and black currant fruits, pepper, spring flowers, new leather and mineral/earthy nuances. Medium bodied palate of red fruit and spice. Nice balance. Long finish and velvety.
Review:
"Boasting even more striking aromas of blueberries, violets and peppery spice than the La Rochette bottling, the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage La Cuvee Nicolas is almost Côte-Rôtie-like. Medium to full-bodied without seeming at all heavy, ripe without being overdone, silky and fine from start to finish, it's a real beauty and a testament to the potential of the commune of Gervans - a small granitic outpost within the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 13th 2021), 93 pts
Kynsi Pinot Noir Edna Valley is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
The Edna Valley was one of the first registered appellations in California and boasts a rich agrarian history. The coastal terrain features varied soil types that are predominantly marine in origin, with ancient volcanic influences. The unusual transverse ranges allows the appellation to open up to the cooling breezes of the Pacific Ocean from nearby Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. The climate is strongly influenced by the ocean providing ideal, temperate growing conditions for Pinot Noir. Early spring warming, mild summer temperatures and late arriving cold fall temperatures and rain provide a long growing season for the development of rich color with concentrated and complex flavors.
Review:
Light berry and cherry aromas are fresh, crisp and inviting on the nose of this wine, which also offers light vanilla and star anise notes. There is a decent structure to the palate, where strong acidity cuts against the fruity flavors, and baking spice warms the tart finish.
-Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
Orin Swift Abstract Red is made from Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah.
The 2022 Abstract pours a dark purple core with a neon, ruby rim. The nose is quintessential Abstract but with a broodier twist-notes of ripe black plum, cacao, black pepper, cedar, dried porcini, forest floor musk and sweet oak. The entry is coating and flooding with hints of blueberry preserves, tarragon, balsamic glaze and anise. Bright and lifting through the palate, the finish offers an umami note akin to eggplant yakitori.
MATURATION Aged eight months in French Oak, 31% New ALC/VOL 15.3%
The Prisoner Wine Company The Prisoner Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The Prisoner Chardonnay has aromas of vanilla, apple pie and pineapple. On the palate, baked apple, crème brûlée and toasted oak.
Landes Cuvee Prestige Lussac Saint Emilion is made from 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc
Color: deep dark ruby intense color
Aroma: racy and aromatic nose with aromas of ripe red fruit, floral notes, wood and spice with a touch of vanilla.
Taste: this wine has a good structure and some powerful aromas of raspberries, blackcurrant, vanilla and it is powerful with a complex finish. The oak is present but not dominant. The tannins are quite well integrated already.
Average age of the Vines: 60 years Yield : 50 hectoliters / hectare. Grape picking: harvest by machine. Vats: Stainless steel thermoregulated and computerized. Fermentation: 45 to 50 days with a final 35°C warm steeping. Winemaking: Malolactic fermentation in new oak barrel. Ageing: 16 months in new French Oak barrels from Allier and Limousin. Annual production: 10,000 bottles. (833 cases)
Review:
"This shows aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries with walnuts, spices and cocoa. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a bright, succulent character. Racy finish. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (December 2022), 92 pts
Woodsy honeycomb, nutshell, and mushroom patch aromas with a satiny fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a delicate savory mushroom stock, chestnut, and golden beet driven finish. A fine choice for tempura. 91 Points -Beverage Tasting Institute
RATING: 91 points (Exceptional)
CATEGORY: Junmai Ginjo Sake, Sake
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 15.4%
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: Dec-05-2012
WINE ID: 200767
Croix Senaillet Saint Veran is made from 100 percent unoaked Chardonnay.
Fresh and fruity with floral, peach and citrus fruit aromas followed by mineral notes. Mineral, citrus and honey flavors. Rich and luscious palate with a long finish.
Produced from a selection of 40 parcels spread over 17 hectares. Some of the parcels include: Maillettes, Bergades, Poncétys, Terres noires, Pommards, Chênes, Surigny, Prâgnes, Bruyère, Chailloux, etc Average age of the vines is 45 years. The soil is made of clay and limestone. South, southeastern exposure - a few plateaux. Careful vinification. Minimal intervention in the vinification process. Modern equipment (pneumatic press, thermo-regulated tanks). Each parcel is harvested at full maturity. Destemming, slow press, slow fermentation, malolactic fermentation, aging on the lees.
When the founding fathers of the Napa Valley carved out new sub-AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in the 1980s, Soda Canyon Ranch was not yet on anyone’s map. The vineyard is neighbored to the northwest and west by the winegrowing districts of Stags Leap District and Oak Knoll District, respectively, which were among the early pioneers of California Cabernet Sauvignon to attain global fame. To the northeast and southeast—and further off the beaten path—were Atlas Peak and Coombsville, thought to be the next frontiers for the emerging wine-producing region.
With richness and depth of flavor, the 2018 Timeless Napa Valley is the embodiment of patience and attention to detail. Decades of experience at Soda Canyon Ranch allow winemaker Nate Weis and team to highlight the individual merits of each block. Combining the strongest lots from each resulted in a refined and harmonious bottling.
In 2018, the diurnal shift at Soda Canyon Ranch produced a darker, lusher fruit profile of Cabernet Sauvignon. Simultaneously, the overnight recovery periods resulted in expressive and refined Merlot, giving the wine a pleasant profile of bright, red fruit. With an extended harvest window, the signature, plush density and structure of Petit Verdot is also prevalent in the final blend. Cabernet Franc thrived in 2018 with its predilection for the cooler soils and the climate of blocks 5, 6, 16, 20 and 21—areas we call the Transition Zone and Hardpan Alley. The variety’s floral and tobacco-like aromatics are accentuated, and its more aggressive nature for back-end tannins tamed.
Once blended, the 2018 vintage rested in French oak barrels for 16 months, developing flavors of vanilla and baking spice. Velvety tannins dance across the palate of bright and lingering cassis. With a smooth finish, this is a comforting wine of elegance and depth—a sophisticated expression of the sedate summer.
Review:
This is a little old-school and shows lots of dark berry, chocolate and dried fruit. It’s full, dense and layered with fleshly sensibility. Velvety texture.
-James Suckling 93 Points
Mortet Bourgogne Passetoutgrain is mae from 60% Gamay and 40% Pinot Noir
Aged 11 months in Neutral French oak barrels.
12% ABV
Malolactic fermentation in barrel.
Slight filtration before bottling.
Bourgogne Passetoutgrains is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for wine from the region of Burgundy.
Most Bourgogne Passetoutgrains is red, although rosé wine may also be produced. Unlike other Burgundy wines, which are
primarily produced from a single grape variety, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains is essentially a cuvée of Gamay and Pinot noir.
This is a quintessential bistro wine. Fresh and fruity, displaying red and black fruit flavors. Well balanced, good structure and silky finish with excellent length. Serve slightly chilled.
Oeufs en Meurette (poached eggs served in a red wine sauce with onions and lardons).
Boeuf Bourguignon (beef cooked in red wine with carrots and patatoes).
Pizza and pasta.