95-97 Point Wines

wines

The Moccagatta 2021 Barbaresco Bric Balin does not quite have the high tones of the Basarin. Indeed, the tenor here is baritone, with dark fruit, spice and iris root. In terms of mouthfeel, this wine offers a very fine and silky texture that gives the wine a polished or glossy feel. Bric Balin is a proprietary name, but the fruit comes from the Muncagota MGA. This is an 8,000-bottle release.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2021 Barbaresco Bric Balin has shut down a touch since I last tasted it a year ago. It shows good energy and persistence, along with better oak integration than the straight Barbaresco and Basarin. I would give this time in bottle, as it is pretty unyielding today, uncharacteristically so for a Moccagatta Barbaresco.Vinous Media | 94 VMA saturated dark ruby color, the 2021 Barbaresco Bric Balin reveals a good deal of luxurious oak spice that’s forward in the glass with aromas of black cherry liqueur, toasted baking spice, cedar, dried orange peel, and espresso. Medium to full-bodied, it saturates the palate with ripe tannins, concentrated richness of fruit, and evenly balanced acidity that lasts through the long finish, with lovely undercurrents of dark minerals. A modern style, but with a lot of depth and complexity, it deserves cellaring to see if it will harmonize, and I do think it will. Drink 2027-2047.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDSpice box, toasted nuts, wild cherries and sandalwood on the nose. Firm and chewy, full-bodied, with broad and muscular tannins. Pretty wood spice. Needs a few years to come together. Try in 2027.James Suckling | 94 JSVanilla and resin aromas complement the plum, cherry and tobacco flavors in this flamboyant red. Clove and allspice chime in as the dense tannins swell on the compact finish. Best from 2028 through 2043. 1,300 cases made, 433 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

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. Production is 6,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThe 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.Vinous Media | 96+ VMSo 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.Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOCherry, raspberry, earth and mineral aromas and flavors highlight this solidly built Barbaresco. Taut and dense yet refined, with a linear profile and excellent length. Best from 2027 through 2043. 600 cases made, 200 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WSA floral and fruit-filled escapade awaits with each sip of this enchanting wine. Enticing aromas transport you to a garden in full bloom, where fresh wild cherries play amidst swirling rose petals and fragrant herbs. On the palate, ripe red fruits mingle with sweet spices, guided fine tannins and lifted acidity that keep each sip lifted and in balance. Drink from 2026 Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Red berry, wild rose, botanical herb and truffle aromas lead the nose on the impressive 2021 Basarin from Sottimano. Firm and elegantly structured, the delicious, focused palate features juicy black cherry, licorice and mocha before closing on a hint of saline. It has great energy thanks to bright acidity while alongside decisive, tightly woven tannins provide the framework. It’s still edgy and nervous and needs time to fully develop. Drink 2028–2036. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOAndrea Sottimano says 2021 was one of the best vintages he has seen. There was a lot of snow during the winter that created abundant water reserves lasting throughout the summer. It was a late-ripening vintage, with cool nights, and Andrea harvested until his birthday on October 24th. The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is expressive and complex with very precise aromas of cassis, navel orange, pulverized stone and licorice root. The tannins are chalky, and the wine offers a pretty sense of lingering sweetness. Winemaking is traditional, with up to three months of submerged cap and aging in botti. Fruit comes from a three-hectare site in Neive with old vines on white soils. Production is 9,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThis Barbaresco opens with a seductive nose that perks up the senses. Hints of spiced wild berries, smoked black tea, crushed dried leaves and baking spices swirl in the glass as delicate floral notes woo the senses even more. Elegant and refined yet with a classic Nebbiolo structure that highlights flavors of drying cherries alongside wild thyme and bay leaf that all lift from the palate with the rush acidity on the finish. Drink 2026 - 2045 Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThe 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is fabulous. Rich, ample and seductive, the Basarin marries the charm that is so typical of this sector with the breadth and structure of Barbaresco. These two qualities are evident in tasting this after the 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo. Transparent and vibrant, the 2021 has so much to offer. Crushed rose petals, mint, orange peel, spice, tobacco and incense build into the long, sustained finish. This is even better than it was last year.Vinous Media | 94 VMThis is pure and well-defined, featuring cherry, raspberry, earth, iron and wild herb flavors. Firms up with a line of dusty tannins, yet the fruit is persistent and this is balanced overall. Best from 2028 through 2046. 800 cases made, 270 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Dry-farmed Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes are aged 20 months in mostly neutral French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. A rather dark, meaty, and savoury expression from this iconic Rutherford Estate helmed by founder and proprietor John Williams. Opaque ruby in colour shows black olive, dusty earth, and graphite. Medium-bodied and intensely perfumed on the palate, wit builds in elegance, almost defying its rather muscular aromatic profile. Fresh, balanced, quite complex, and quite cellar-worthy.Decanter | 95 DECOne of the founding practitioners of organic and dry farming in Napa Valley, Frog’s Leap offers a classic approach to Cabernet Sauvignon. Along with flavors of black currant and blackberry, this wine offers lingering spices, lightly tactile tannins and mouthwatering acidity. The wine is both pleasing and perfect for a range of foods from savory mushrooms and risotto, to grass fed beef. Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEWell-rounded, fruit-driven and chalky. The nose expresses aromas of blackberries, sweet cherries and earth. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Mellow with a fruity and chewy finish. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 91 JSRipe red and black fruits, darker chocolate, and some smoky tobacco notes all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown, a nicely balanced, elegant, impressive Cabernet Sauvignon from this team that has ripe tannins and outstanding length.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

All of the wines from 2021 have considerably less alcohol than the counterparts from 2020, reflecting the much cooler condition of the year. The 2021 Encrucijada has a moderate 12% alcohol and retained very good acidity. It’s perfumed and elegant; the plants are happier after being recovered from being abandoned, and the cool vintage lifted the wine up. It’s fresh, tightly wound, very tasty and fine, with elegant tannins. It has to be the most elegant and balanced vintage of Encrucijada so far. 1,700 bottles were filled in October 2022.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RP

This shows balsamic, sandalwood, rose petals and a touch of red fruit on the nose. The palate is tight, with precise chewy tannins, tight fruit and a compact finish. A solid, exceptional Barolo that will need about three years to soften.James Suckling | 97 JSShowing the fantastic aromatics this site is known for, you’ll find enticing aromas of iris, dog rose, wild berry, forest floor and menthol on Paolo Scavino’s radiant 2021 Bricco Ambrogio. This MGA always has softer tannins out of the gate than the estate’s other cru offerings and the stunning 2021 is no exception, delivering succulent flavors of ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, blood orange, mint and licorice alongside polished tannins. It’s beautifully balanced, with fresh acidity. Drink 2029–2041. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 97 KOThe 2021 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio is classy and polished to the core. This wine has come such a long way since its debut. Enrico Scavino really believed in this site when he purchased it a little more than 20 years ago. The 2021 is a fine testament to his vision. Lavender, sage, menthol and licorice lead into a core of dark-toned fruit in a Barolo that is deep yet also light on its feet. This is impeccably done, not to mention very tasty.Vinous Media | 95 VMThe Paolo Scavino 2021 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio is usually the lightest wine in the family’s collection of single-vineyard wines. From the village of Roddi in the northernmost point of the appellation, this area has wide vineyard valleys and cool southeast exposures. The heat of the day falls away quickly thanks to steep diurnal shifts. The soils are composed of blue marl and sand, and the family farms seven hectares here, of which five hectares are Nebbiolo (the rest is Dolcetto and old-vine Barbera). A selection of the best fruit is made from old vines and put into this bottle. The wine is soft and silky with red and blue fruits and floral aromas to close.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

Past vintages of this wine were called Roncaglie Masseria, but the word Masseria has been removed. The Vietti 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie draws its fruit from inclined vineyards that produce fruit with finesse and elegance. This pretty wine opens to a note of fragrant flower or heritage rose that accompanies you over a long, silky close. In a good vintage like 2021, vintners could push skin macerations a little longer. This wine saw 25 days on the skins compared to 22 days in the 2022 vintage. Vietti recently purchased land in Rabajà, a site that produces profound wines, and this plot in Roncaglie has a greater presence of sand in its soils, creating more floral and delicate expressions instead. This matures in large oak casks for 24 months, and production is 6,066 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPThe 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Blood orange, mint, cinnamon and white pepper open, but only with great reluctance. Brisk acids and pulsating tannins need time to soften. There’s fabulous density lurking beneath. This is a gorgeous wine in the making.Vinous Media | 95 VM

Fruit for this wine comes from a three-hectare parcel in Serralunga d’Alba near the village, with south and southwestern exposures in a small amphitheater. The soils in this area are older and thus more evolved, but they always create wines of strong character. The Vietti 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is easy to identify thanks to its salty mineral finish, which is almost metallic in taste, and its bright hints of sweet rosemary and wild herb. These delicate high notes form pretty framing to a dark core of elegant fruit. The estate counts five vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba, but Lazzarito is the only MGA bottling. Production is a bit larger here, with 10,363 bottles made this vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPA graceful and enticing wine with complex, assertive cinnamon, melon, watermelon, earth, strawberries and peonies on the nose. This is a wine that breathes, with a full body, great fruit concentration, restrained blood orange flavors, lavish, elegant tannins and long, lifted acidity. Slightly stern in the finish, as expected from a young Barolo. Best after 2028.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is a potent, deep wine. Not surprisingly, it is quite closed in the very early going. Even so, all the natural power and intensity of Serralunga is very much on display. It is the most backward and forbiddingly tannic of these Barolos today. Then again, that is Serralunga. Hints of gravel, incense and charcoal peek out on the finish.Vinous Media | 95 VM

The 2021 Barolo Cannubi is another stellar Barolo in this range from Claudio Fenocchio. Aromatic and lifted, the 2021 is classic Cannubi. Bright acids cut through a core of sweet red-toned fruit, mint, orange peel, cinnamon and new leather. This chiseled, nuanced Barolo is a winner.Vinous Media | 95 VMA restrained Barolo with red currants, red cherries, bright violets and a balsamic touch on the nose. More elegant than powerful, it’s medium- to full-bodied with enjoyable thick yet ripe tannins, crisp acidity and cherry stones in the finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.James Suckling | 95 JSWhile based in Monforte d’Alba, the Fenocchio family has owned a small 0.5ha slice in Cannubi Boschis for over 50 years and it has been bottled separately since 1980. Striking scents are redolent of rhubarb compote, cherry bark, toasted hazelnut and warm, dusty earth. This is full, dense and even a bit chewy as supple fruit fuses with seemingly pliant tannins which build with dry, sandy texture, providing a firm, well defined frame. Citrussy acidity is direct and penetrating, with a thrillingly crisp finish. I wouldn’t touch it for at least a couple of years – Fenocchio’s wines age exceptionally well.Decanter Magazine | 94 DEC

Dark aromas of graphite, potpourri, smoke, bergamot and dried cherries. Firm tannins on the palate, with a full body, a dusty texture, refreshing acidity and a powerful finish. Extracted, meaty, concentrated and balanced for the long haul, with an amazing minty aftertaste. Try from 2027.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Barolo Villero is laced with spice, new leather, herbs, menthol and licorice. It exudes depth, structure and classicism, with plenty of the balsamic inflections that are such signatures of Villero. I admire the wine’s virile intensity and overall power. This is a superb showing.Vinous Media | 96 VMMy top pick from this estate in 2021, the Villero bottling is crafted from 65-year-old vines. The southwest-facing plot is characterised by calcareous clay rich in iron, which typically gives solidly structured wines. The house’s confidently extracted style accentuates this but is so well honed that the wine remains in brilliant balance. It is as expressive as it is textured: entrancing aromas convey smoke, cinnamon, sarsaparilla and a burst of violet. While tight and vertical to begin with, a mouthful of stoniness makes way for a richness of dark fruit through the mid-palate, all hemmed in by sophisticated, grainy tannins while sappy acidity lends a cleansing quality.Decanter Magazine | 96 DEC

Having finished pruning just eight days before the brutal trio of April frost days and having put out a ’shameful’ number of candles, Weber was rewarded (it’s all relative in this miserly vintage) with almost 20 hl/ha. And, it is a divine Montrachet with spiced pears, herbal tea, gingerbread and cream. It is all lace and flourishes. The bustling acidity drives the flavors into a seemingly eternal finish with a lightly crispy edge. Bravo! (2023)Tim Atkin | 97 TATOP QUALITY This is a wine of impressive concentration, with complex layers of fruit on the nose that range from citrus to green apple, apricot, quince and passion fruit. There are elements of cream, butter, flinty mineral and fresh flowers. The texture is dense and long, but there is no lack of freshness, and the balance seems nearly perfect. It is produced from 0.89ha of mature vines on the Puligny side, just south of the Ramonet parcel. Profound and ageworthy, it will doubtless also show well young.Decanter Magazine | 96 DECThe 2021 Montrachet Grand Cru is half the normal volume, pruned just before the frost with a massive number of candles, therefore it managed to produce 20hL/ha despite everything. This is unequivocally a step up from the Chevalier-Montrachet with greater definition and poise, more energy. The palate is well balanced with fine detail, light wild peach and citrus notes, fine mineralité with satisfying tension on the finish. Excellent.Vinous Media | 94-96 VMA bit better in yield as everybody protected their vines in Le Montrachet, with the 2016 disaster in mind. A fine mid lemon yellow, this begins discreetly but there is a wonderful concentrated intensity through the middle, a racy quality perhaps not quite there in the Chevalier. This time there is clearly a beginning, a middle and an end. Really enormously persistent and leaving a special taste in the mouth. I might just sip it to keep me company en route to my next tasting in Gevrey-Chambertin! Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted Nov 2022.Jasper Morris | 94-98 JMThe 2021 Montrachet Grand Cru opens in the glass with aromas of pear, confit orange, honeycomb, spices and freshly baked bread. Full-bodied, ample and satiny, it’s rich, fleshy and complete, with lively acids and a long, expansive finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPReluctant if broad-ranging aromas include those of petrol, floral, spice, white orchard fruit, especially white peach, exotic tea and a suggestion of oak. The dense and powerful yet caressing large-scaled flavors coat the palate with sappy dry extract while displaying stunningly good length on the balanced, youthfully austere and compact finale. This is definitely built-to-age but the mid-palate density is so good that the 2021 Montrachet should be approachable after only 7 to 8 years of keeping.Burghound | 93-96 BH

The G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Coste di Rose (a certified organic wine) is especially fragrant and floral in this vintage. It could be the power of suggestion given the wine’s name ("slope of roses"), but you absolutely get hints of heritage rose or rose hip in this beautiful Nebbiolo. The 2021 vintage hits the ball out of the park. There are characteristic hints of tar and something that reminds me of oil paints or linseed oil. I love the clarity of the mouthfeel.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPWhat an intoxicating nose of flowers like violets and roses and hints of cedar and blueberries. The palate is compact, with delineated fruit and superfine, elegant tannins. Succulent, but with a lovely, polished, underlying structure. Already a joy to drink, but will surely improve substantially with a couple of years of bottle age.James Suckling | 96 JSLoaded with finesse, the 2021 Coste di Rose has classic Barolo aromas of wild red berry, rose petal, camphor and spice. It’s smooth and delicious, doling out wild raspberry, strawberry compote, star anise and black tea before a minty finish. Polished tannins and fresh acidity keep it impeccably balanced. While already tempting, the best is yet to come. Drink 2028–2036. Abv: 14% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOThe 2021 Barolo Coste di Rose is soft and quite supple, qualities that make it easy to taste, even in the early going. Crushed flowers, dried cherry, mint, rose petal are nicely lifted in this understated, quiet Barolo. This comes across as quite open for a young Barolo.Vinous Media | 91 VM

2021 was an exceptional year in the Langhe as is clearly demonstrated by the gorgeous 2021 Barbaresco from Produttori. It boasts beautiful aromas of violet, rose, cake spice and mint that carry over to the elegant palate along with succulent red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it impeccably balanced. Made from blending Nebbiolo from different vineyard sites, this is the firm’s classic Barbaresco and is one of the greatest values in Italian fine wine. Drink 2027–2033. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOThis wine gives us our first taste of the epic 2021 vintage from a producer as prolific as Produttori del Barbaresco. Bottled in April 2024, this vintage shows the immense power and complexity that likens it to 2016, another year for collectors. The 2021 Barbaresco offers medium-rich density that is transmitted both to the wine’s appearance and its mouthfeel. There is black fruit, spice and a touch of nutmeg. However, the wine maintains its youthful tension and energy throughout. The tannins are chalky, fine and void of any bitterness. This is a classical expression of Nebbiolo that gives us good reason to be excited for the upcoming 2021 Barbaresco Riservas.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPA vibrant, well-defined red, offering rose, cherry, strawberry, white pepper and mineral flavors. Sleek and elegant, this firms up on the linear finish. Balanced and approachable now yet would benefit from a bit more time to knit together. Excellent length. Best from 2027 through 2040. 24,000 cases made, 7,000 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2021 Barbaresco offers more complexity and sports a bit deeper shade of red than the 2021. Layered with aromas of kirsch, darker spice, cardamom, candied flowers, and orange peel, the palate is more structured and compact, with savory notes of salty earth, angular, ripe tannins, and its more citrus-noted acidity shining on the palate. It has more nervous energy and needs more time. Give it another couple years and drink 2027-2046.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDAn intriguing wine with aromas of potpourri, dried cherries and candied orange zest. Smoky and juicy on the palate, with firm, dusty yet ripe tannins, a full body and a long, savory finish. Drinkable now, but it has great potential for the long haul.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2021 Barbaresco is a gorgeous, deep wine. Although the aromatics are a bit closed, the 2021 shows gorgeous depth and a touch more palate presence than is typically the case for this bottling. Dark and enveloping, the 2021 will offer a number of years of very fine drinking. It is an impressive, classy wine from Produttori del Barbaresco.Vinous Media | 93 VM

A wine with tremendous lineage and ageability, the 2021 Chardonnay Estate offers a depth of golden nectar, pear, and toasted oak, with a prestigious length and breadth that only begins to suggest its ability to age another 25-30 years. (Winemaker Jeffrey Patterson has been driven for decades by a dedicated vision of longevity for these wines.) The high levels of acidity lead toward a refined palate of elegantly demure fruit, a quench of Meyer lemon, and nuanced, integrated oak, just a touch of hazelnut accenting the long finish to great effect. With its pedigree for aging wines, this should drink best 2031-2046.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThe 2021 Chardonnay Estate strikes an admirable balance between textural decadence and tensile sturdiness. It leads with a rich, layered nose of honeyed orchard fruits, blanched almonds and baking spices. The palate harnesses a soft, creamy richness with lifted acidity and impressive, saline length on the finish. Continuing the time-tested style of Mount Eden, this should build further complexity and intensity for nearly a decade.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPDeep golden yellow in the glass, the 2021 Chardonnay Estate Bottled is soft-spoken and inward today. It’s clearly holding its power in reserve as it plots its next move. Briny, focused, lemony acidity presses on with much gusto, energizing a deep well of crushed stones, soft floral tones and green pear fruit. Rounded and enveloping, it unfurls at a snail’s pace as lime zest and subtle tropical flourishes inflect the finish. This classy, restrained wine needs a couple of years in bottle to fully blossom.Vinous Media | 94+ VM

Tile, violets, wild berries and rose petals on the nose. Really pure and fascinating aromatics. The palate is subtle and delicate, but with concentrated and sophisticated fruit that’s succulent and precise. Linear acidity. A lovely wine. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSHailing from the MGA of the same name that’s more commonly called Altenasso and located in Castiglione Falletto, the 2021 Garblèt Sue’ is another stunner from Brovia, starting with its enticing nose of blue flower, perfumed berry, ground clove and fine tobacco blend. Showing great structure and restraint, the youthfully austere palate features red cherry, cranberry, star anise and menthol accompanied by firm, refined tannins. It’s well balanced, with vibrant acidity that keeps it energized. Showing great aging potential, give this time to fully unwind. Drink 2033–2051. Abv: 14.5%Kerin O’Keefe | 97 KOThe Brovia 2021 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is beautifully sharp and refined, showing intensity, elegance and length. This is how you do Nebbiolo. The wine has extremely fine tannins but with glossy substance. They stay the course to give firmness from behind. The name Garblèt Sue’ is a local dialect expression for Garbelletto Superiore. This is a 0.8-hectare site with evolved Sant’Agata Fossili Marl soils. Given the wine’s structure, it ages in slightly smaller 30-hectoliter French and Slavonian oak casks. This is a release of 1,700 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPThe 2021 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is a super-classic wine from this Castiglione Falletto site. Strong mineral, floral and savory inflections run through this deep, potent Barolo. A wine of depth and textural intensity, the 2021 has so much to offer. Sadly, frost took with it 50% of the production. Shock from the cold led to an especially late harvest that served to fully ripen the tannins. The wine’s structure and personality emerge with time. Iron, sage, mint, white pepper and blood orange linger on the taut, salivating finish. This is a terrific effort in a very challenging year.Vinous Media | 94+ VM

One of the Dauvissat specialities, the La Forest is a triumph in 2021. From seven small parcels, the total site is less than 1ha with average vine age more than 40 years. Intriguing, slightly smoky nose, highly distinctive and different to others in the range. Plenty of power, ripe stone fruit flavours, zesty citrus acidity with a herbaceous edge adding an extra dimension. Definitely of grand cru quality.Decanter | 95 DECThe 2021 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest is a young classic, mingling scents of sweet citrus oil and peach with notions of white flowers, struck match, bee pollen and youthful reduction in an incipiently complex bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and textural, it’s concentrated, taut and incisive, with a long, mineral finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThere is a hint of phenolic character on the aromas of crushed leaf, mineral reduction, lemon-lime and seaweed. The denser, succulent and powerful larger-scaled flavors are supported by a firm acid spine on the stony, youthfully austere and bitter citrus rind finale. This is quite dry and I very much like the balance though I would note that at least some patience is strongly suggested as this is quite tightly wound today. In a word, terrific.Burghound | 94 BHI always think of Vincent Dauvissat’s la Forest as his baby les Clos, as with ten years or more of bottle age, the two often resemble each other a bit aromatically and flavor-wise. The 2021 version of la Forest chez Dauvissat is going to be stellar. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a complex mix of pear, fresh lime, flinty minerality, citrus blossoms, discreet vanillin oak and a topnote of beeswax. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and full, with a superb core of fruit, excellent complexity and cut, fine focus, bright acids and a long, complex and impeccably balanced finish. This is superb. (Drink between 2026 - 2060)John Gilman | 94 JGAlso a fine clear colour, though without a green tint. The Forest 2021 has a solid full fruit on the nose, perhaps less intense at the edges. Very pure white fruit, good acidity, not the volume which the 2022 will have but it is coming out very well even so. Drink from 2026-2033. Tasted: May 2023.Jasper Morris | 93 JM

A rich purple in color, the 2021 Barbera D’Alba Pre-Phylloxera comes from 130-year-old vines from a single cask. It is expansive aromatically, with a perfume that offers more spice in its notes of black pepper, blackcurrant liqueur, and lavender, giving it an almost Syrah-like character. A very special wine, it fills the palate with plummy fruit and cleans up with dark minerals. Full-bodied without being weighted, this is a wine with more aging potential, although it is outstanding now. Drink 2023-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDFrom one of the oldest vineyards in Italy, and one of the very few in all of Europe that survived Phylloxera, the remarkable Cogno 2021 Barbera d’Alba Pre-Phylloxera offers a rare glimpse of what wines made on their original rootstock can offer. Hailing from a small plot of vines well over one hundred years old, it has balsamic aromas of camphor and new leather that mingle with ripe dark-skinned fruit, violet and tobacco. Full-bodied and boasting a weightless concentration, the savory palate delivers ripe black cherry, blood orange, white pepper and licorice alongside enveloping, refined tannins. Thanks to vines planted 520m above sea level, it also boasts vibrant acidity and energy. What a fantastic wine. Drink or hold through 2031. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KOElvio Cogno produce just 1,800 bottles annually of this Barbera d’Alba, made from 0.25ha of 140-year-old vines in Berri near La Morra, on chalky, sandy soils. Like the ‘standard’ Barbera d’Alba, it’s vinified in stainless steel and aged in Slavonian oak casks for 12 months, yet here the result is more complex and more concentrated: pure hedgerow berry and violet scents adorn a palate full of sweet, ripe black cherry, with notes of cream, coffee and tar in the background. The finish is long and freshly balsamic, carrying more of that gorgeous violet-infused fruit.Decanter | 94 DEC

The 2021 Barbera d’Asti La Crena is exceptional. Bright, red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. In recent times Vietti has focused more on freshness in their Barberas, and that is especially evident in La Crena—a wine that used to be very dark and heavy but is far from that today. Clean, mineral notes extend the vibrant finish. Give this a few years to develop the full range of its aromatic breadth. What a wine!Vinous Media | 96 VMAlthough best known for its Barolos, Vietti (now part of the US Krause Group) also releases a number of different Barberas. La Crena is from a 6ha site near the commune of Agliano Terme in the Nizza area. The vineyard, purchased in 1995, was planted in 1932. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and the wine then spends 18 months in a combination of steel, large casks and barriques before bottling. Stephen Brook: Opulent nose, with dark fruits tempered with some stylish oak. Suave and juicy, fine texture, balanced by firm acidity, which gives some spice and flair to the finish. Vincenzo Arnese: Candied aromas of Morello cherry and wild strawberry, very expressive. Bold palate with robust tannins; time will smooth it, yet quite rich and pleasant. Sara Bachiorri: Cherry and juniper berry nose. Nice concentration, with intense Maraschino flavours and a touch of liquorice stick.Decanter | 95 DEC

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard is fabulous. It emerges from a terraced vineyard at 1,800 feet in elevation in Napa Valley, just above the Coombsville AVA. Rich, dark and beautifully structured, the 2021 possesses notable pedigree and character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, bay leaf and espresso all race across the palate. Readers who enjoy old-school Napa Cabernets will adore this. This wine, if sold in Napa Valley, would cost four to five times as much. Don’t miss it!Vinous Media | 96 VM

The vino de paraje from A Serra in Dragonte 2021 Paixar is as good as ever, with the austerity of the slate slopes and the old vines that deliver low yields of concentrated and characterful grapes. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and a very fresh sensation on the palate beyond analysis. The vineyards are in the process to obtain organic certification. 6,500 bottles produced. This is one of the most elegant vintages for this wine.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPAs I have mentioned in the past, Paixar is Luna Beberide’s oldest vine cuvée, with these Mencía vines ranging from eighty-five to one hundred years of age! The vineyard is a south-facing hillside of weathered slate and the wine is now raised entirely in one wine casks during its élevage. The 2021 Paixar is a superb wine in the making, delivering a complex aromatic constellation of black raspberries, graphite, pomegranate, tree bark, grilled meats, a gorgeous base of slate minerality, espresso, woodsmoke and a touch of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very elegant on the attack, with a superb core of black fruit, impressive transparency and grip, ripe, fine-grained tannins and impeccable balance on the long, focused and complex finish. This is so well-balanced that it is not hard to drink today, but in reality, this is still a young wine and it is infanticide to even contemplate drinking it now, as there is so much more to unfold here with some extended cellaring. This may well be the finest young wine I have yet tasted from Luna Beberide, and I have been a fan of this fine Bierzo estate for a decade now! (Drink between 2031 - 2075)John Gilman | 95 JGA firm, medium-bodied red, with an herbaceous overtone of Mediterranean scrub and crushed pine accenting flavors of tangy blackberry and black plum as well as mineral and spice undertones. Fragrant on the fresh finish, with lingering floral herb and spice notes. Best from 2025 through 2033. 700 cases made, 175 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The 2021 Palmer is a heady, showy wine. Clay-rich soils yield a Margaux of breadth, power and textural richness. Black cherry, lavender, mocha and dried herbs infuse the 2021 with tons of character. A wine of density and intensity, this is seriously impressive. It is also going to need time to fully blossom. There’s real juiciness from the Merlot, and an exotic quality that suggests it was picked on the later side. The 2021 spent one year in barrel and one year in cask, as is the norm these days here.Vinous Media | 96 VMPerfumed chocolate cherries with bramble tones on the nose. This has a rich and round mouthfeel, clear structure on show but also with life and lift - a sweet, bright cherry element given definition by strict but fine tannins. You have a really beautiful, delicate opening, quite wide and airy then the depth arrives on the mid palate, with chalky tannins and red fruits coming into play before the spiced liquorice enters on the finish. The texture is striking, velvet-like with layers and a sublime verticality of freshness and minty aeration. It may be less glamourous and overtly plush and seductive than bigger previous vintages but I love the classicism on show - a focus, precision and sophistication. Superb winemaking from Thomas Duroux who successfully navigated the difficult vintage conditions in 2021.Decanter | 96 DECThere’s brightness and clarity to this young wine, with blackcurrants, violets, lavender and blackberries. Medium body with a sold core of fruit and a long, fresh finish. Fine tannins. Bright acidity. 56% merlot, 3% petit verdot and 41% cabernet sauvignon. From biodynamically grown grapes.James Suckling | 96-97 JSThe wine is dense with warm tannins supporting black fruit tones and acidity. Juicy and spicy, the wine’s Cabernet Sauvignon shows so well with black currant flavors. It is fresh and it obviously it will age well. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2021 Palmer has turned out beautifully in bottle, wafting from the glass with expressive aromas of blackberries, cherries and mulberries mingled with notions of iris, dark chocolate and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with an enveloping core of succulent fruit framed by rich, sweet tannins, it concludes with a long, expansive finish. It’s a blend of 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThe Grand Vin 2021 Château Palmer checks in as 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot. The élevage here is unique in that the wine spends the first year in barrel (60% new) before having one-third moved into foudre for the following 6 months. The 2021 is an unquestionable success, revealing a dense purple hue as well as a powerful bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits supported by notes of tobacco, graphite, and chocolate. This medium to full-bodied Margaux has ripe, velvety tannins, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length. It’s going to have plenty of up-front appeal yet still evolve for two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 93-95 JDOffers an almost juicy edge, making this difficult vintage stand out from the pack while giving its core of black cherry and black currant some energy. Subtle alder, tobacco and warm earth accents underscore the finish. Shows a late mineral twang, with just a wisp of the vintage’s austerity. Serious kudos here. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. 7,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 Palmer needs a little swirling and coaxing to unlock evocative plum preserves, black cherry compote, and star anise notes, followed by earthy nuances of tilled soil, black truffles, and cracked black pepper with a touch of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers beautifully soft, rounded tannins and lots of juicy fruit in the mid-palate, supported by harmonious acidity, finishing with beautiful purity and perfume. The blend is 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot. 65% of the crop will be aged new barriques for the first year, then transferred to foudres for the second year.The Wine Independent | 92-94+ TWI

Loaded with juicy acidity and layers of spice. The wine is packed with fruit that contrasts with the firm tannins that lie in the background giving a polished structure to this ageworthy wine. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2021 Léoville Barton has turned out beautifully in bottle, wafting from the glass with notes of cassis and plums mingled with subtle hints of pencil shavings, menthol and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively concentrated, it’s layered and refined, built around lively acids and a chassis of sweet, powdery tannin that will reward some bottle age with greater plenitude. It’s a real success.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPThe 2021 Léoville-Barton is a gorgeous, classically built Saint-Julien. Graphite, leather, blue-toned fruit, spice, tobacco, licorice and lavender are immediately alluring. Medium in body and vibrant, the 2021 exudes finesse from start to finish. It is very much on the restrained side, with all the elements impeccably balanced. I would give this a few years in the cellar. It really blossoms with air, but the best is clearly yet to come.Vinous Media | 94+ VMHeady on the nose, perfumed and scented. The palate is alive and playful, delivering high acidity but also focused fruit so it’s both lightly framed and fun, but also savoury and serious. Smooth and silky tannins give the gentle frame, letting the strawberry, creamy raspberry and red cherry fruit do the talking. It’s unfussy, all the elements to the fore but all well balanced with a charming texture overall and persistence of high-toned red berry fruits with saline sides. Hints of green pepper, black pepper, slate and pencil lead on the finish. I like this a lot!Decanter | 94 DECA stride ahead of the pack, with more flesh to its core of black currant and black cherry notes. Backed by singed applewood, cedar and tobacco accents, this shows a subtle twang of iron on the slightly austere finish, but the grain is relatively fine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2036. 11,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSA medium-bodied red with redcurrant, crushed-stone and earth character, following through to fine tannins and a polished finish. Balanced.James Suckling | 93-94 JSI continue to love Château Léoville Barton, and their 2021 doesn’t disappoint. (If anything, the fresher style favored here played nicely with the vintage character.) Lots of cassis and darker currants as well as crushed stone, graphite, and floral notes emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, pure, elegant tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s not going to match the all-time greats here, but it’s a seriously good wine in the vintage and I’d be happy with bottles in the cellar.Jeb Dunnuck | 92-94 JDThe 2021 Leoville Barton is composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 27 September to 7 October. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to shake loose notes of fresh blackberries, mulberries, and cassis, plus touches of garrigue, wild blueberries, violets, and licorice with a touch of wood smoke. Medium-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone with loads of crunchy black fruit layers and an impressive array of savory sparks on the long finish.The Wine Independent | 90-92 TWI