Calvados, Cabernet Sauvignon, ...

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The 2020 Petresco is 100% Sangiovese from the estate's highest-elevation blocks facing Lamole, where soils are especially rocky and the vines are older. Wildflowers, herbs, rocks, menthol and licorice soar out of the glass. This is an especially savory, expressive Sangiovese that emphasizes mineral and floral notes more than primary fruit. Petresco spent two years in 60-70% cask and the rest in barrique, followed by a year in cement. It remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Italy. Magnificent. (97) ANTONIO GALLONI

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Really pretty fruit with pure berries and cherries with flowers. It’s medium-bodied with medium round tannins and a juicy finish. Shows a citrusy undertone to the whole thing with fresh acidity that runs long. Give it two or three years to come together. Better after 2025. JAMES SUCKLING

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The 2022 Rosso di Montalcino is exotic. The bouquet leaps from the glass, mixing medicinal cherries, mint, pine and blood orange. Seamless and silky, this soothes the senses with its soft textures of opulent ripe fruits, all balanced by tactile minerality. Residual acidity adds amazing, juicy freshness through the finish as the 2022 tapers off gently tannic, potent and long. This is quite unique from a typical Le Potazzine, ripe and intense, yet I'm loving it all the same. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly with a blend of savory herbs, worn leather, dried roses and cinnamon-dusted currants. This flows across the palate with textures of pure silk, racy yet refined, with a seamless wave of ripe red fruits that slowly saturate toward the close. It finishes long and staining yet harmonious. Crunchy tannins frame the experience without slowing its momentum as licorice and orange notes gradually fade. This fantastic, high-energy rendition of Talenti’s Brunello will thrive over ten to fifteen years of cellaring. ERIC GUIDO

The fantastic 2020 Barolo from Giacomo Fenocchio is the best entry level offering of the firm's Barolo range I've had to date. It has classic Nebbiolo aromas of ripe red berry, blue flower, new leather and spice while the utterly delicious, polished palate delivers succulent Morello cherry, baking spice, licorice and tobacco before a minty close. Velvety tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2026-2035. KERIN O'KEEFE
 

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Aromas of wild berry, rose and baking spice align with a whiff of menthol. Elegantly focused, the vibrant, youthfully austere palate delivers crushed raspberry, Morello cherry and licorice framed in taut, close-grained tannins and fresh acidity before a rather drying, tight finish. Give it a few more years to fully unwind. Drink 2024-2036. (96) KERIN O'KEEFE

Youthful ruby. Concentrated and lifted and with hints of sweet spice on the nose. Lithe, sweet and ripe cherry fruit palate charged with stalky tannins. Great intensity and transparency of fruit. Bright acidity and firm, slightly drying tannins that demand more ageing, streamline the whole. WALTER SPELLER

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One of Australia’s great cabernets. This from a cooler season highlights and accentuates the typical bright red fruits and blue fruit mix, especially on the nose. It’s aromatic and perfumed with an African violet scent. The palate as always is so exquisitely balanced and refined. Since 1989 the cabernet has been augmented with the floral bright fruit of cabernet franc and the darker robust black fruits of petit verdot. The palate delivers with a gentle restraint yet there is power deep within. The chalky tannins define a long and focussed finish. A deceptive medium bodied wine that will cellar for many years. (98) RAY JORDAN

 

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino bursts from the glass with an intense array of black raspberries, lavender, sage, wet stone and crushed rocks. This is elegant and velvety on the palate. A rich wave of ripe red and black fruits soothe, lifted by vibrant acidity and hints of mint. The 2019 finishes with a mentholated freshness, leaving a tarry concentration and a coating of fine-grained tannins that saturate. This is a dark and radiant beauty that will require extended cellaring. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous.com

This iconic estate in BOCA has led the resurgence of Alto Piedmont and is rightly considered the premium producer of the region. The unique micro climate, southern exposure & Volcanic soils delivers perfect maturing for Nebbiolo and now amazing Erbaluce.

Le Piane Boca DOC 2017 - The estates iconic BOCA wine that is considered the finest wine of the region. 85% old vine Nebbiolo and 15% Vespolina grown on volcanic soil.  Long fermentation with the skins (30 days) in open steel and wood casks (2000-3000 litres) . Aged 3 to 4 years in large old oak casks, 12 months in bottle before release.

The 2019 Barolo Capalot offers quite a bit more depth than the straight bottling, Macerated cherry, spice mocha and dried leather are all laced together in this potent, somber La Morra Barolo. Give this a few years to come into its own. ANTONIO GALLONI

The Argiano 2019 Brunello di Montalcino comes out stronger than the previous 2018 and 2017 vintages, thanks to the precision and focus of its fruit flavors in this balanced vintage. It shows ample depth and volume, with sweet cherry and blackberry that fold into softly toasted spice and earth. Floral hints of lilac and iris make brief but poignant appearances. Velvety tannins and a nicely concentrated mid-weight palate give good staying power. MONICA LARNER, Wine Advocate

Inviting aromas of sandalwood, blue flower, resin and mocha come to the forefront. The aromas follow through to the savory, rounded palate along with dried cherry, anisette and ground clove. It's polished and accessible, with fine-grained tannins. It closes on the warmth of alcohol. Drink through 2028. KERIN O'KEEFE, Wine Enthusiast

The 2019 Barbaresco Albesani Vigna Borgese is another terrific wine in this range from Piero Busso. Ample and expressive, with terrific depth, the 2019 offers up copious dark red fruit, blood orange and sweet spice tobacco. Firm tannins wrap it all together. The Borghese offers an appealing mix of ripe, racy fruit and mid-weight structure. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

Busso bottles two cuvées from his 1.2 hectares of vines in the Albesani cru (the other is the Viti Vecchie offered below). On the western hills above Neive, Albesani is one of the shining stars of Barbaresco. In his Barbaresco MGA, Alessandro Masnaghetti writes that here, “…the combination of soil, stature and exposure creates one of the greatest vineyards of the Langhe”. The vines were planted between 30 and 70 years ago at 260 metres above sea level on soils of limestone, clay and marl with an ideal southwest exposure. This fermented naturally in tank, then aged in 25-hectolitre cask for 26 months.

San Stunet is the only Busso vineyard not in Neive, and instead is in the village of Trieso. Busso farms 1.5 hectares of vines, which sit at 400 metres in altitude on a steep gradient (16%). San Stunet soils are mostly yellow marl with a lot of limestone. The Busso vines lie on the southeast face of the ridge which delivers the deepest and most articulate Nebbiolo of this cru. The site is late ripening, usually picked 10 days after the estate’s other vineyards.

The winemaking is identical to the Albesani Vigna Borgese, but this has both more flesh and is punchier, suggesting both more tannins and acidity. Decant it and serve it in a Burgundy glass and you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful Nebbiolo loaded with character (dark cherry, honey, leather), depth and structure. It would ideally get 10 to 15 years bottle age, but if not, then lots of air.

The 2018 Barolo Paiagallo is delicate, ethereal and beautifully perfumed. Sweet pipe tobacco, orange peel, mint, dried cherry, licorice and incense are all laced together in this very pretty, nuanced Barolo. The Paiagallo is the one Barolo in this range aged in cask. ANTONIO GALLONI

Barolo. 25 days on the skins and aged only in large oak casks.
Lustrous ruby with orange tinges. Savoury, meaty nose and generous fruit with crunchy tannins on the palate. Easy-going and full and still a little embryonic in spite of its fullness. WALTER SPELLER, www.jancisrobinson.com

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Deep bright purple-red colour leading into a stylish bouquet of sweet mulberry and other berry fruits, violets and cassis, succulent and mouth-filling, with masses of fine emery-like tannins that run the length of the palate adding authority, structure, length and refreshment to the aftertaste. Concentrated, superripe blackberry, cassis and mulberry flavours; oak tucked discreetly into the background. (98) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review

Really delivers as you might expect from this excellent concentrated and powerfully frame vintage in Margaret River. It’s dominant cabernet with smaller portions of merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Typical of this wine since switching to biodynamics, it is bright and brilliant with a nervy tense energy to drive the palate. The succulent fruit is harness by fine chalky tannins and neatly played oak of which 55% was new. A wine of extraordinary elegance and poise with a few of many decades. (98) RAY JORDAN

Needless to say, Margaret River enjoyed another superb vintage with the 2022 season. Slightly cooler, Cullen report that it was a vintage of “immense perfume and texture”. The wine is a wonderfully vibrant purple in colour. The nose gives up plums, cassis, spices including nutmeg, chocolate, mocha, bay leaves, cigar box notes – think a freshly opened box of Cohiba Siglo VI – and near perfect oak integration. This is finely balanced and exhibiting immense length on a palate that sees the emergence of aniseed, mulberries and coffee beans. An alluringly supple texture with the silkiest of tannins, though plenty of them – there really is some grip here. This will easily sail through fifteen to twenty years in a good cellar. (98) KEN GARGETT, Wine Pilot

Always the most structured of Brezza's MeGA offerings, the 2020 Sarmassa is a gorgeous wine, starting with its classic varietal aromas of menthol, wild rose, new leather and pressed rose. Firmly structured, the taut, savory palate shows succulent red cherry, pomegranate, licorice and ground clove. Tightly knit tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and provide an age-worthy structure. Drink 2029-2038. KERIN O'KEEFE

Tasted from barrel, the 2021 Barbaresco is a very pretty, easygoing wine. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint, spice and white pepper give the 2021 lovely aromatic lift to match its mid-weight personality. This is shaping up well. ANTONIO GALLONI

Balsamic aromas of camphor mix with grilled sage, rose and culinary spice on this fragrant red. The vibrant palate offers cranberry, star anise and blood orange before a saline close. Taut, polished tannins and bright acidity provide the framework KERIN OKEEFE

Very deep, dark, impenetrable purple colour; a gorgeous fragrance of spicy superripe berries and a hint of licorice, super concentrated and almost essency. Traces of soy sauce and nori. The wine is highly concentrated on the palate; powerful, profound and rich, with masses of sweetly ripe berry fruit and no sign of herbal varietal touches. A profound and multi-dimensional cabernet that will richly reward long-term cellaring. It drinks superbly already but it would be sacrilege to open it before it's had more time to build the tertiary complexity that we know will come with time. (99) HUON HOOKE, therealreview.com

The 2021 John Riddoch Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant wine. It is achingly intense yet is defined by its levity, which is not a common attribute in Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine expounds the virtues of the red gravel in which the fruit was grown, via its iodine and crushed shells, cassis and blood, sweet marrow and tobacco. It tastes so clearly of the place, which is a wonderful thing. The back palate swells with flavor, framed by the earth and the attuned oak. This is a tribute to the earth, an ode to it. Plentiful tannins bob along on the current of fruit. This will cellar interminably. It's up there in both quality and feel with the 2010, or so I think. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. (98) ERIN LARKIN, wineadvocate.com

One of the best vintages in Coonawarra for many years. Little wonder this release of the John Riddoch is one of the best since the initial release from the 1982 vintage. Aromas of violets and red berry with a slightly cherry glaze character adding further intrigue. The palate is medium weight and refined but with tremendous power and persistence. A combination of hogsheads and barriques has been used to deliver the perfect level of oak. One of the best of these I can recall. (98) RAY JORDAN, rayjordan.com.au

"In one word - 'epic'.  Having just returned from ten days in Bordeaux tasting a vast number of youthful Cabernets, among other styles of wine, if this beauty had been slipped into the mix, it would have lounged somewhere near the top of the pile…John Riddoch is more akin to an elite Saint-Estèphe than a typical New World Cabernet…'21 JR is pure, stunningly plush, deeply fruited but seemingly weightless and incredibly detailed. It is a superb thoroughbred with impeccable balance, and it is as relevant for an old-world geek as it is for a new-world disciple. It is time that Wynns John Riddoch sat alongside the acknowledged world Cabernet greats, and this vintage will undoubtedly help make this dream a reality. (19.5/20) MATTHEW JUKE

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Diana Madeline. The name evokes a lot of emotions, for what the woman stood for then and what the wine stands for now. The 2021 vintage equals 50 years of cabernet sauvignon plantings at Cullen. When released in early 2023, it was on what would have been her 100th birthday. It’s a wine that can come from nowhere else, so strong is its sense of place. Expect to swoon over aromas of roses, violets and mulberries doused in baking spices, a ferruginous quality as much as detailed if persuasive tannins. It’s complex, complete and structured. Gosh, what a wine. What a woman. The perfect combination. (97) JANE FAULKNER, James Halliday

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Made from a blend of Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu, Carcajolu-Neru, Montanaccia, Morescono, Morescola and Aleatico which were all planted in the early 1960’s in granite soil. The grapes are crushed by foot and macerated for 15 days with very gentle extraction before ageing in older 600 litre demi-muid barrels. VINTAGE AND VINE

Smoky, spice and aromatic with dried berries and cherries. Cloves, too. Medium-to full-bodied with round, juicy tannins. Tight and firm at the end. Hints of cloves on the finish with some slate and iron. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold. 93 JAMES SUCKLING

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70%Cab. Sav. 30% Sangiovese.The 2017 Camartina is going to need a few years to open. That will be helpful as the wine ages, but it also means the Camartina does not have the opulence readers are likely to expect in this warm, dry year. Time in the glass brings out brighter tonalities of fruit and floral overtones that give a good idea to where the 2017 is heading. Readers should be in no rush here. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

Very fine, pure, ultra-mineral expression of Nebbiolo here. Strawberry, raspberry, spice, fennel, mint and stones. It's bright and very tight, with fine crushed rock tannin, red fruits and orange peel, even some bergamot tea perfume. Finish is long and firm. You can almost feel an alpine breeze running through your hair as you taste it (that is, assuming you have hair, otherwise maybe around the nape of your neck). (95) GARY WALSH

Mauro Veglio's property in Paiagallo is at mid-altitude in what is called Vigna San Sebastiano, bordering Terlo, to which it is closer in style than the opposite side of the MGA. Garnet in colour, it has notes of watermelon, earthy strawberry and lemon leaf. Elegance and freshness prevail over the powerful palate. Nevertheless, it is full bodied, well extracted and with sweet tannins. Citrus notes and liquorice emerge on the finish. ALDO FIORDELLI, www.decanter.com

The 2017 Barolo Paiagallo is the most open and racy of Veglio's 2017. Ripe red cherry, kirsch, dried flowers, orange peel and cinnamon all develop as the 2017 opens in the glass. This is an especially ripe, forward Barolo, but it also has a bit better balance in its tannins. ANTONIO GALLONI

In this wine you glimpse the future of the estate. The lack of smaller oak here reveals a more open profile of red fruits, florals and fruit tannins (not oak tannins) which give life and an entirely different shape to the structural profile. The tannins are saturated and enlivening. I simply love this wine and it occurs to me it's the kind of wine which is the reason you drink Barolo. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PWS

Brovia's 2018 Barolo is a very good wine for the vintage and within its peer group. It naturally shows the modest structure of the year, but all the elements are nicely balanced. Sweet dried cherry, mint, cedar, tobacco and crushed leaves open nicely. I would prefer to drink the 2018 over the next handful of years. As always, the straight Barolo is a blend of 70% Brea and 30% a mix of the other sites in the range. It is very nicely done. ANTONIO GALLONI

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Crushed mint, dried rosemary, blue flower and woodland berry aromas come to the forefront on the gorgeous 2020 Paiagallo from Mauro Veglio. On the full-bodied palate, notes of star anise, coconut and coffee bean accent a juicy red cherry core. Drink 2028–2035. KERIN O’KEEFE

Veglio's Paiagallo is from a single 30hl botte grande, where the wine ages for 24 months. It's very classic on the nose, with dried cherry, liquorice stick, intense Parma violet, cherry kernel and rhubarb. Firm on the palate, it shows very elegant tannins and a velvety texture, with lifted acidity and great red fruited length. A sleek Barolo, more elegant than powerful but no less cellarworthy.  ALDO FIORDELLI, wwe.decanter.com

The 2020 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba is a blend of two sites in the village. Dark and evocative, the 2020 offers up a complex mélange of savory herbs, blood orange, balsamic-infused fruit, spice and new leather. This beguiling, nuanced Barolo hits all the right notes. The mix of finesse and power in reserve is alluring, to say the least. ANTONIO GALLONI

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More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Fausoni is a 1.5-hectare plot with old vines up to 70 years old in age. The Sottimano 2021 Barbaresco Fausoni delivers more oomph and texture thanks to clay and sandy soils that definitely make the difference. In terms of aromas, this wine is quite floral and delicate with citrusy oils, dates, tamarind and lavender. The tannins are elegant and chalky. (96) MONICA LARNER

Aromas of mocha mingle with underbrush, blue flower and exotic brown spice on the intensely fragrant Fausoni from Sottimano. On the palate, firm, fine-grained tannins accompany spiced cranberry, blood orange, licorice and chocolate. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This will be even better in a few more years once it has fully come together. Drink 2028-2036.  (96) KERIN O'KEEFE

The 2021 Barbaresco Fausoni is a wine for readers who appreciate the more linear, old-school style of Nebbiolo. Chalk, white pepper, mint, tobacco, cedar, blood orange and sweet red cherry fruit all race across the palate. The 2021 won't be ready any time soon, but it is an absolutely stellar wine in the making. (96+) ANTONIO GALLONI

This wine comes from a 1.5-hectare plot with white soils and 40- to 50-year-old vines. Pajoré tends to produce austere wines with an etched mineral note and without the glossy softness you can get in some of the other parcels. The Sottimano 2021 Barbaresco Pajoré saw submerged-cap fermentation until January 20, 2022, marking one of the longest maceration times to date for this estate. This pretty wine has a ferrous or metallic note coupled with crushed mineral. These shape an angular, almost cubist personality. However, you also get tart cassis and crushed peppercorn. The wine is indeed more austere, and this bodes well for a long aging window. The tannins are grippy and tight. (96+) MONICA LARNER

So perfumed, the 2021 Pajorè from Sottimano is a stunner, with enticing aromas of mocha, ripe red berry, camphor, violet and forest floor. The intense, full-bodied palate is super savory, delivering succulent raspberry, Marasca cherry, baking spice, star anise and hints of hazelnut before a cool, minty finish. Tightly knit, close-grained tannins provide support while bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2028-2036. (96) KERIN O'KEEFE

The 2021 Barbaresco Pajorè has shut down massively since I tasted it last year. Dried herbs, menthol, incense, game and tobacco infuse the palate with tremendous complexity. Readers will find an austere, classically built Barbaresco for the cellar. Time in the glass brings out the natural breadth and structure of Pajorè. Quite simply, this is an archetype. What a wine. (96+) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2020 Barolo Giachini comes across as quite closed today. The aromatics are expressive, and yet the wine feels much more reticent on the palate. Sweet red cherry, leather, pipe tobacco, cedar and dried flowers open with great reluctance. It will be interesting to see if time in bottle helps this come together a bit more fully. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

Refined, complex and nuanced nose with grainy minerals, grapefruit, white pepper and a mossy edge. Transparent but broad on the palate with lots of crushed wet stones and a tight, nervy finish. Delicate but powerful and ethereal too. Lots of finesse and texture. Drink from 2026. ZEKUN SHUAI, JamesSuckling.com

This wine comes from a 2.8-hectare vineyard purchased by Andrea Sottimano's father in 1969. Today, the vines are 80 years old and planted in very wide spacing that once had vegetables and artichokes between the rows. The soils are sandy like in Rabajà and Asili. The 2021 Barbaresco Cottá was the last wine in our flight. That's because it has the biggest concentration and richness. It offers a full bouquet with sweet berry fruits, dried herb and dark spice. It makes a big impact on the palate, and it shows an intense, long-lasting mouthfeel. All of these Sottimano wines are racked into oak sometime after January, and malolactic fermentation proceeds very slowly (finishing at the end of summer or closer to harvest). This gives the wine a reductive character. The aromas here are very delicate and fine with carob, forest fruit, orange rind and blue flower. The tannins are powdery and fine. This beautiful Nebbiolo drinks like a Pinot Noir (97) MONICA LARNER

Intense aromas of iris mingle with fresh cranberry, ground clove and camphor on the fabulous Cottà from Sottimano. Focused and elegantly structured, the delicious, balanced palate features juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and saline alongside vibrant acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins. What a beauty. 2028-2036. (97) KERIN O'KEEFE

The 2021 Barbaresco Cottá is quite the powerhouse. As usual, it is marked by a huge mid-palate of fruit, but more classic winemaking these days keeps that in check while also adding the notable structural dimension to balance things out. Black cherry, licorice, incense, graphite, tobacco and scorched earth all build in a virile, potent Barbaresco to treasure for the next two decades. This has come together beautifully since I tasted it last year. (96) ANTONIO GALLONI

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The ridge that descends from Bussia, wedged between Cannubi Boschis and Pugnane, terminates in the Castellero MGA. Well known for its more poised style, it doesn't differ here: leafy lightness, dried cherry, bright mint and milky aromas are allied to a graceful, relaxing attack then firm tannins, fierce acidity and a fresh, juicy red currant and pomegranate fruit character. A dynamic finish. ALDO FIORDELLI, decanter.com.

Spontaneous fermentation. Aged in 4,000-litre Klaus Pauscha Slavonian oak. Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Brooding and a little exotic on the nose with hints of dark spice. Not entirely open yet. Concentrated but stubborn palate with lifted acidity that is a little marked, but this is still embryonic. Fine, grainy tannins on the finish. Far from ready and with lots of powdery tannins on a complex, layered finish. WALTER SPELLER, jancisrobinson.com

The 2018 Sforzato di Valtellina Vino Sbagliato is a powerhouse wine. Black cherry, plum, leather, cedar, tobacco, smoke, licorice and dried herbs pack a serious punch. Candied dark cherries smooth into the finish. This brooding, inward Sforzato has a ton of character. ANTONIO GALLONI

With the first tilt of the glass, you know that this is not your average 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. An enthralling bouquet of spiced citrus peels, roses, sour cherries, crushed rocks and animal musk keeps you at the edge of your seat. This is remarkably pure and delicate, seeming to hover across the palate, yet delivering a vivid mix of ripe wild berries, salty minerals and purple-tinged florals. Beneath, saturated tannins build, yet the expression remains fresh - almost mouthwatering, in fact - as sweet hints of plum and tobacco slowly fade. While the Baricci family doesn't market their wine as a cru, this is indeed 100% Montosoli fruit from one of the region's top winemaking families. Bravo. ERIC GUIDO, vinous.com

Spicy aromas reveal pipe tobacco, underbrush, new leather and ripe berry alongside whiffs of fragrant purple flower. Linear and full-bodied, the elegantly structured palate has youthful tension, offering succulent Morello cherry, star anise and ground clove before a saline mineral finish. Taut, well-integrated tannins provide the framework while bright acidity lend youthful tension and balance. It's loaded with depth complexity. Drink 2026-2043.(97) KERIN O'KEEFE