Wine Advocate (97)

A resounding success, the deep ruby-colored 2017 Sorella displays beautiful purple highlights and explodes from the glass with aromas of blackberry, cigar box and dried tobacco with hints of graphite and dusty purple flowers. Full-bodied, the wine is ripe and round, with an immaculate mouthfeel, showing an impressive depth of flavor. With succulent red and black fruit expressions and soft cinnamon spice tones from oak, the wine is a whirlwind of complexity across the mid-palate. Emerging with a balanced structure and lifted tannic backbone, the wine lingers with persistence and intention, as flavors of dusty bitter dark chocolate, black plum and spiced dark cherries flutter across the finish. Bravo, this is absolutely stunning and will drink amazingly for the next two decades to come.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2019 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is ethereal and perfumed this vintage. It offers pure scents of raspberry preserves, bergamot, tangerine and Angostura with wafts of sweet balsamic. The palate is soft, bright and super silky, with layer after layer of sweet fruit, spice and citrus, and it finishes long and perfumed.

Wine Advocate (100)

Marvelously complex, deeply fruited and massively concentrated yet wonderfully drinkable, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin challenges the number of superlatives that can be thrown at it. Scents of violets, tree bark, truffle, purple raspberries and blackberries all appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, dense and velvety, and the finish shows enormous richness and length. Breathtaking stuff.

Wine Spectator (96)

This red is all about finesse, delivering superb balance and complexity, with cherry, raspberry, earth and wild herb aromas and flavors. Succulent and charming, yet with a solid base of tannins and vivid acidity, this remains focused through the long aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. 4,575 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Barbe Rac is brilliant and up there with some of the finest vintages to date of this cuvée. Based all on Grenache from a single lieu-dit in the southwest of the appellation called the Barbe d'Asne and brought up in concrete tanks, it offers up a gorgeous nose of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, garrigue, and graphite. Deep, rich, and powerful on the palate, with tons of sweet fruit, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for two decades or more.

Vinous (95)

The 2019 Sangiovese Romagna Predappio Riserva is shaping up to be the most classic and refined rendition I've yet tasted of Le Lucciole. The past nine months have added dark, savory depths to its captivating bouquet of crushed raspberry, grilled herbs and smoked dark chocolates. This is silkier and more supple today. A stern mineral core underscores wild berry fruits and exotic spices. Tantalizing acidity adds balance through the structured finale. The 2019 reminds the taster that its years are shy of maturity, tapering off with a saturation of fine tannins that grumble beneath an air of balsam herbs and violet florals. This bottle was followed over two days and never faltered. What a beauty.

Vinous (92)

Mixing both savory and sweet, floral and herbal, earthy yet packed full of bright cherry-berry fruits, the 2019 Sangiovese makes quite a first impression. This is silky in texture, yet juicy and spry with zesty, red berry fruits motivated by brilliant acidity under an air of inner violets and exotic spices. The 2019 has energy to burn, tapering off long and slightly grippy, creating a classically dry impression while also holding your attention firm with its lingering hints of licorice and candied almonds. There is so much balanced pleasure to be had from this Predappio Sangiovese.

Wine Advocate (97+)

A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 9% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple 2017 Proprietary Red soars out of the glass with notions of baked blueberries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial, backed up by nuances of chocolate mint, wild sage, violets and pencil shavings, plus an earthy hint of Chinese five spice. The rich, seductive, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with spicy black fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and opulent.

Experience the superior quality craftsmanship of 'De Pez 2019', a testament to true Bordeaux mastery from one of St. Estephe's oldest vineyards. Meticulously produced at Château de Pez, a keen emphasis is laid on environmentally friendly agriculture and hand harvesting to inspire, realise and winnow the best produce. Devotion in every detail results in a wine that mirrors the terroir's authenticity.

Alluringly deep ruby in appearance, the De Pez 2019 presents a complex blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Matured in French oak barrels, it exudes profound notes of ripe red fruits adorned with hints of tobacco and spicy undertones. On the palate, it delivers a captivating combination of deep fruitiness mingled with polished tannins, culminating in an alluringly long finish. This full-bodied red orchestrates a symphony of taste, true to its Bordeaux lineage.

Unquestionably, De Pez 2019 is a benchmark exemplar of refined winemaking; a timeless choice for devotees of exceptional Bordeaux wines.

James Suckling (98)

A tight and beautiful white with a dense palate of beautiful, ripe lemons and apples. Layered and refined with phenolic tension. Complex yeast and hints of oak and flor. Full body. Great length. 80 per cent flor-growth in barrel. Drink now.

Wine Advocate (92)

This is a Tuscan white wine with a huge following, and deservedly so. The Fattoria le Pupille 2019 Poggio Argentato is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Traminer and Semillon. The wine broaches a mid-weight texture, showing some creamy density and waxiness, but it ultimately pulls back to a lean-bodied approach that is pushed forward by the wine's bright and snappy acidity. It delivers aromas of orchard fruit, tangerine skin, sweet almond and poached pear. It has the 360-degree latitude to pair with vegetarian dishes, fish or white meat.

Vinous (95)

The 2017 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet of mixed red and black fruit and a faint touch of tomato vine. It becomes more floral with aeration. The palate has fine structure, and there’s some clever stem addition apparent here, lending this Clos Saint-Jacques a subtle leafy character. Focused with fine weight toward the finish, this is very persistent and quite saline on the aftertaste. Reserved, but the pedigree is undeniable. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Lastly, the 2019 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is an absolutely jaw-dropping wine, and it doesn't – and won't – get any better than this magical elixir. A massive bouquet of black fruits, bloody meats, ground pepper, scorched earth, iron, and truffle all emerge from this dense, powerful monster of a Côte Rote that's flawlessly balanced, has perfect tannins, and sensational levels of concentration and extract. It should hit prime time in around a decade and evolve for 40-50 years.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2017 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru includes 20% whole bunches, matured in one-third new oak. It has a gorgeous bouquet of cranberry and raspberry fruit with veins of cassis; later, brown spices emerge. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, good depth and fine grip, perhaps just missing a little precision toward the finish but still very fine.

Decanter (91)

Blended from a patchwork of 18 different plots, all opposite either Chambolle-Musigny or Gilly-lès-Cîteaux. This shows a bright red berry fruit character, with floral notes, light body and a silky texture. The fruit is destemmed and fermented on native yeasts, before ageing 16 months in used casks.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Despite being in its infancy, there is a lot to love about this already: perhaps the nose is reticent, but the palate has beautiful crunchy cherry and cranberry fruit with just a touch of black olive on the finish. There's dark chocolate and lovely hedgerow notes too, giving plenty of interest beyond fruit. Certainly not at its best just yet, but full of promise.

Decanter (96)

Beautiful fragrance to the nose, perfumed and delicate yet so expressive, nothing out of balance with cherries and violets bursting out of the glass. Gorgeous smooth mouthfeel with some milk chocolate dusting on the fruit, tannins are delicate and softly mouth filling with a lovely salinity to the palate - creamy and unctuous but at the same time there's lots of acidity. This has a verticality to it, layered but with an aerial quality too, the flavours just glide across the palate with lift on the finish - so satisfying and drinkable. Just a glorious, shining, bright, velvety, succulent glass of wine. Pure elegance. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, 3.55pH.

Wine Advocate (97+)

The stunning Le Macchiole 2019 Messorio is all Merlot from a special 2.5-hectare plot with a classic mix of Bolgheri soils featuring clay, silt, sandstone and limestone. The wine ferments in concrete and finishes in new barrique for 18 months. I spoke with proprietor Cinzia Merli about Merlot, and she concedes that this early-ripening grape suffers the most because of climate change. However, the winemaking team works extra hard for balance and elegance notwithstanding. This beautiful wine releases perfumes of cherry, blue flower, iris root, crushed stone and slate. Well-balanced oak tones add power and texture to the full-bodied close. 11,000 bottles were released.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is fabulous. Rich, powerful and vibrant, Le Petit packs a serious punch. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, mocha and dried herbs build as this effusive, generous wine shows off its racy, alluring personality. I loved it.

The West Australian (97)

The 2017 vintage was one of the milder vintages in WA. The latest Moss Wood captures this vintage perfectly and is without doubt one of the more restrained and tightly framed Moss Woods of recent years. Not the opulence of 2014 or the firm power of the 2016. Yet it retains the elegance, perfume and soft approachability that is Moss Wood. And hidden within is a wine that I suspect will still be drinking beautifully in 30 years. Make sure you decant it even now before drinking.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2017 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets is one of the purest, most fragrant wines in the cellar, unfurling in the glass with aromas of rose petals and potpourri that mingles with sweet fruit tones of cherry and raspberry. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and supple, with a lovely line of acidity, a fine-grained chassis of tannin and a beautifully defined finish.

Burghound (92)

(Outstanding) Fresh and elegant aromas are comprised by notes of plum, violet, rose petal and soft wood hints. There is fine detail and focus to the gorgeously textured middle weight, refined and overtly stony flavors that terminate in a lingering, delineated and equally classy finish. At least some patience suggested.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2019 Inseparable comes from the original vineyard planted by the monks in the Monasterio del Cristo Orante in Gualtallary Monasterio at 1,450 meters above sea level. The destemmed grapes fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in concrete for one year, different from the first vintage that matured in oak. 2019 was a cold and wet year when they picked in early April in a year with a small ripening, the last vineyard they harvest. The nose has flowers and dark fruit and notes of graphite and earth, and the palate has a strong chalky sensation. It's ripe at 14.5% alcohol and juicy, with good freshness and acidity (pH 3.5 after malolactic and 6.2 grams of tartaric acid). It's a serious and somewhat austere red. 7,700 bottles were filled in March 2020. It was a good yielding year.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of French winemaking with the Philippe Dremont La Moca Grand Cru 2017. Produced in the revered vineyards of Champagne, France, it exudes quality and authenticity. The breathtaking terroir lends itself brilliantly to the cultivation of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier - the trademark blend of this exquisite grand cru.

Expert winemaker, Philippe Dremont, employs traditional manufacturing techniques, allowing the wine to ferment naturally with indigenous yeasts. Aged for 36 months in French oak barrels, this delectable champagne boasts an alluring complexity. Expect a plethora of impressive notes including candied fruits, honey, and toasted brioche. A subtle minerality enhances the elegance of the champagne, followed by a lingering finish that epitomises the quality and craftsmanship of the Philippe Dremont La Moca Grand Cru 2017.

Its golden hue and fine bubbles are a visual testament to this champagne's grandeur. An exclusive delight for true connoisseurs.

James Suckling (99)

The aromas to this are really amazing, with a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches. Full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate in an encompassing yet always elegant and pure way. It’s succulent and unadulterated. Like crushed, perfectly ripened grapes. The length is rather endless. The tannins build. Fabulous young red. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2028, but an absolute joy to taste now.

Wine Advocate (97+)

A strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage in Chablis this year, the Raveneau family's 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp green apple, citrus zest, iodine, oyster shell and fresh hazelnuts. Full-bodied, taut and chiseled, it's incredibly taut and concentrated, with huge depth at the core, tangy acids and a long, penetrating, pungently saline finish. Might this turn out to be even better than the magical 2017? Time will tell, but this is clearly a masterful achievement.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

The 2019 The Bard checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, and it’s another dense, rich, powerful wine from this team that readers are going to absolutely love. Coming from throughout the valley (it’s always a great representation of the vintage), it offers up a brilliant nose of crème de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate. About as seamless as they come on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a thrilling texture, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s one of those wines where I feel like I’m overusing adjectives, but it’s warranted.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur 1er Cru came across more closed than the domaine’s other Premier crus, light chalk dust scents permeating the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a very smooth texture, more compact and denser than expected but displaying a verticality that will appease those who like "cool," understated Pinot Noir rather than opulence. I suspect it will age extremely well.

Vinous (86-88)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes comes from vines up to 85 years old. It has a sensual bouquet of brambly red fruit, undergrowth and light truffle aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, moderate acidity and decent length. What is missing is a little tension and precision on the finish compared to other vintages.

James Suckling (99)

Extremely floral and aromatic with violets and lavender throughout. Black olives, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, very fine-grained tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on for minutes. A greenish undertone comes out at the end with some spearmint, green tea and green olive. About two-thirds merlot. Best after 2028, but already stunning.