The 2022 Jayson Chardonnay achieves a beautiful equilibrium of richness, buoyancy, and intricacy. Aromas of sweet Meyer lemon, crushedalmond, and grilled pineapple lead to a concentrated palate of bright lemon curd and orange blossom honey underscored by fresh pear andtoasted nuttiness with a hint of baking spice. The texture is classic Pahlmeyer, plush and detailed, while the presence of bright Carneros fruitbrings energy and litheness. Flavors are lifted and extended on a spine of bright acidity, the lingering finish striking an ideal balance betweenopulence and mouthwatering freshness.
Review:
This generous, buttery and spicy wine is sourced from several parts of Napa Valley and brings gorgeous richness to the nose, palate and finish. Elements of brown butter, marzipan, toasted almonds and poached pears flood the flavors, with vanilla bean and a touch of sweet coconut. Barrel fermented in 36% new French oak, it’s full-bodied and nicely viscous in texture.
James Suckling 93 Points
Grape varieties: Parellada 40%, Macabeo 30% and Xarel·lo 30%.
Harvest: Occurs in 3 stages. Macabeo within the first fortnight of September, Xarello during the second fortnight in September and Parellada within the first fortnight of October.
First fermentation and vinification: This is a "Methode Traditionnelle" with
soft pressing of the grapes to obtain 60% of the must (flower must). It is decanted and fermented with controlled temperatures of 18ºC for 20 days until it fully develops the primary aromas of the grapes.
Secondary fermentation: takes place in the bottle for 40 days at a temperature of 16ºC and final ageing for 20 months. Residual sugar: 7 gr. per litre.
Color: Pale yellow with green tones. Shiny and clear.
Aromas: Powerful in the nose, clean. Ageing aromas.
Taste: Soft and well structured, long aftertaste and good balance of acidity and sugar contents.
Gastronomy: It should be served chilled between 5ºC and 7ºC. A flute type glass is recommended. Excellent with pasta, red and soft meats and white fish.Painous is unique in that it is a Cava-Joven style sparkling wine, meaning, the wine receives the minimum aging of 9 months. This allows crisp, fresh aromas and flavors to be expressed. It is delicious for aperitif.
Review:
"Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of brown butter poached pear, marzipan, lemon and apple, and floating in the pool with the grill going with a round, crisp, finely carbonated, dry medium body and an interesting, medium-length finish manifesting notes of dried apples, apricot jam, blanched almonds, and jasmine rice with no oak flavor. Layers of flavor from fruit to earth dance on the tongue for a classic expression of sparkling wine from Catalonia."
- Beverage Testing Institute (November 2022), 91 pts - Gold Medal
Palacio del Burgo Tinto is made from 100% Tempranillo.
This wine is made of 100% Tempranillo from 15-25 year old vineyards in the Rihuelo area between the town of Alfaro and the slopes of Monte Yerga.
The wine shows a deep cherry red color with violet tones. Intense fruity nose of blackberry and licorice over sweet mocha aromas. Vibrant with smooth tannins; long-lasting, powerful and smooth. An incredible Rioja value.
Patricia Raquin Bourgogne Rouge Fut de Chene is made of 100 percent Chardonnay.
The animals shown on the label are dogs, from the breed called Borzoi, or "Russian Wolfhound", which means "fast" in Russian. Patricia and Alain Corcia are the proud owners of 2 Borzois and they designed the label to represent the dogs as the guardians of the vaulted ageing cellar inside their house.
The wine is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown on gravel and silt soils, aged in French oak barrels. Medium to full bodied, earthy, fruity and mineral. Structure and tannin on the finish. The wine pairs well with any hearty red meats and cheeses.
Paul Hobbs George Menini Estate Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Brilliant ruby red in the glass, the 2022 vintage follows the color with matching aromas of wild mountain strawberry, raspberry, and cherry infused with hints of black tea. On the palate, this wine has the texture of thick satin, evolving seamlessly with subtle energy and pleasant tension. Elegant, fine-grained tannins run through a lingering, juicy finish.
Review:
Wow, a super well-structured, vital wine with oodles of generous black fruit flavors on a firm frame that will help it age well and improve with time. Black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, forest floor nuances and a slight smoky, stemmy character from using mostly Calera-clone grapes, with 15% whole clusters and 30% new French oak. Great interplay between layered fruit and a fresh, crunchy texture. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.
-James Suckling 98 Points & #54 in Top 100
Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Sourced predominately from the estates that are defined by their proximity to the coast and Russian River climate, the wine displays vivid crimson and aromas of violet, Morello cherry, and black tea. Velvet tannins on the palate ride along a juicy backbone of flavors such as cranberry, Blood orange, and Damson plum. The finish is long, powered behind a crisp acidity and appealing red clay-like minerality.
Young and present, this is an energetic and bold expression of violets, lavender, and cassis mixed with dark chocolate, cherry, plum, and graphite. A wine happy to be tucked away in the cellar, and it’s also expressing itself beautifully now.
Review:
Lovely fragrant blackberry and black cherry fruit, cassis, and rich tobacco spices with lovely fresh earth notes and a sweet kiss of new wood cedar. Incredibly concentrated dark berry fruit with fabulously angular tannins with smooth long beams with crisp edges. Purple florals, dried sagebrush, and chocolate shavings with lids of graphite and deep iron-like mineral character. And a finish of dark saturated fruit that goes and goes for days. There are purple floras too. Polished and bright, with vivacious acidity and freshness evident from the sip to the finish. Wow, this wine.
-Decanter 98-100 Points
Ruffino Alauda Toscana IGT is made from 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 25% Colorino.
An elegant, full-bodied wine, Alauda is a harmonious sum of its parts. Rich with varietal flavors of plum and cherry from the Merlot and layered with ripe berry flavors from the Cabernet Franc, and unique balsamic and dark chocolate notes from the Colorino. The extended oak aging process integrates the blend while providing tertiary flavors of sweet spice and soft, elegant tannins for a lingering finish. This wine will age gracefully for decades.
Review:
“Lush and polished, boasting plum, blackberry, chocolate and oak spice flavors. Solidly built, with excellent harmony, a smooth texture and long, toasty finish.”
Wine Spectator 92 points