Wine Enthusiast 91/100 (Best Buy). My notes: Cab sauv, merlot, syrah. Aged 9 months in seasoned cooperage. Dark and glowing red violet. Well integrated trio, each in sympathy with the others. Rich overall; perhaps the richest vintage yet. Barrel earned suavity adds to the positive picture. Handsome wine. 92/100.

Second label; estate bottled. That's pretty pronounced for second label WA cabernet. The greater warmth of Yakima shows. WA cool fruited all the same. I smell a deal. Round and rich and flavorful. Good WA acidity. Well balanced and length. No cabernet tannin issues. Begs for food. This has always pleased me. 91/100. 'Ripe, punchy nose; deep palate, ripe and tannic; nice quality fruit but needs some time.'

Tasting Panel 91: 'Big notes of berry cobbler, bacon fat, and coffee bean are seasoned with allspice. Ample acidit would help it pair with a plethora of cuisines. $21.' Note: comments addressed as 'Tasting Panel' are from Tasting Panel magazine, not from VC weekly tasting panel attendees.

15-18 year old vines; aged in seasoned oak cooperage, 80% American, 20% French. Boy, you can bring this around as often as you want. Tasted this and the 2022 recently and love 'em. Deal, deal, deal. Fruit, US oak impact, power, balance, flavor depth and breadth. Fine tannin. Best $15 cabernet on the market? 92/100.

Saturated red violet. Mountain indeed. Robust and meaty. Well concentrated fruit melange and well absorbed oak. Class of 2023. Yeah, that rich and satisfying. Full flavored, full textured. The bright purity of 2023, and the impeccable harmony. And there are no tannin issues. Best vintage yet of this. 95/100

Like appearance. Oh, it's the house signature cabernet all the way. Mountain meets valley meets barrels. Stalwart structure and complexity. In style. Another rich mouthful of red wine. Not just big but also linear. Always is. More tannin here, and it's still a bit drying. One of the best of the 2022 Napa cabernets tasted to date all the same. 96+/100.

Wine Enthusiast 93: 'Returning Bordeaux grapes to this historic vineyard in the cool Santa Maria Valley might be challenging, but this blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Malbec shows much promise. Aromas of strawberry, dusty oregano, pepper and toasted wood lead from the nose into a palate that sizzles with acidity and offers red fruit, pepper and oak flavors. $45.'

Tasting Panel 96: 'The wine is ripe, round, and rich, with melted dark chocolate, brandied cherry, and baking spice. $70.'

Tasting Panel 92: 'Earthy forest floor meets cherry pith as acidity bolsters a savory midpalate of sweet tobacco and umani. $24.' By King Estate. From Willamette and Rogue valleys; aged nine months in French oak cooperage, 20% new.

Medium dark ruby. Always the freshness and lift of a Freedom Hill pinot. And her successor is keeping to Patty's style. Nice balance of pinot sweetness, acidity, and light tannins. Sits right on the palate. Growth to go. 93+/100.

Tasting Panel 93: 'Spiced with clove and dried orange peel, plum, and soy sauce fill the mouth, and the fruit is well supported within an exacting frame. $35.' Aged nine months in French oak cooperage, 15% new.

Tasting Panel 91: 'Bright acidity and notes of cola, sarsaparilla, sweet basil, and just-ripened cherry. $21.' From Steamboat Ranch in Solano County.

Wine Spectator 94: 'A sappy red, with linzer torte, kirsch and boysenberry compote notes melded together, carried by racy and deeply embedded acidity. A range of wood spice, black tea, singed apple wood and bramble lends fuel to the structured finish, allowing the fruit to pump through decisively and lengthily. Best from 2026 through 2032.'

Wine Enthusiast 91 - BEST BUY: 'Fresh and fruity aromas of black raspberry, red flowers and star anise are juicy and fun on the nose of this bottling. There is ample tension to the palate, where the snappy red-fruit flavors are lifted by sage brush and fennel pollen.'

Wine Enthusiast 93 - BEST BUY: 'This bottling of a grape once known as 'Napa Gamay' is always a fresh treat. This vintage is smooth and inviting on the nose with cherry and oak aromas. The palate is fresh, herbal and snappy all at once, offering juicy baked cherry flavors that lead into a baking spice-kissed finish. Hidden Gem.'

15% ABV. Petite sirah, cab sauv, zinfandel, petit verdot, syrah, lagrein. Kitchen sink cuvee. The alcohol adds body and is actually cooling, so positive all around. The varieties mesh. Sweet fruit despite the high alcohol, so the grapes must have been really ripe, or the winemaker used a pusher yeast. Light tannin, good balance. Works. 91/100. List price: $30.

Tasting Panel 93: 'Vivid acidity meets undertones of pineapple, pie crust, thyme, and minerality. $30.'

Est. 1993; aged in seasoned, lightly toasted French oak barrels. Sits just right as it always does. There's OR coolness and lift, and lack of malo and oak excesses. The oak here is nice, the light toastiness a positive and not overwhelming aspect. One of the most even-handed and price worthy OR chardonnays on the market. Food, please. 91/100.

From eight vineyards, including the estate's. Native yeasts. Whole cluster pressed. Aged on lees in French oak barrels, some new. Beautiful example of OR chardonnay. All the input factors chime in, in harmony. Whole even greater than sum of parts. The texture is as impressive as the aroma/flavor set. This winery is a class act. Glad to see something lower priced than the vineyard designate cuvees. 93+/100.

Tasting Panel 91: 'Boasts notes of dried lemon rind, dill, and pear that speak to the wine's quality. $21.' From Borden Creek Vineyard in Lodi. Aged nine months in French oak cooperage, 30% new.

Full yellow. Combo of toasty oak and citrusy Sangiacomo chardonnay aromas. Full bodied. Quite powerful. Yes, this is a powerhouse, especially for a Carneros chardonnay. Good creamy malo effect joins the picture with oak vanillin. Whopper of a chardonnay, well balanced, complex, mouthfilling, long lasting. 95/100.

Wine Spectator 93: 'This stunning wine leaps out of the glass, with concentrated flavors of white peach, quince and pineapple, plus floral accents of orange blossom and lemon curd. Finishes with mouthwatering acidity, a note of crunchy sea salt minerality and a whiff of lemon verbena. $25.'

Tasting Panel 93: 'This is a wonderfully balanced, floral yet flinty white with succulent notes of pear nectar. Highlights of hyacinth and elderflower are on the verge of viscous, joining flavors of white rice and garden herbs.'

Wine Enthusiast 94: 'This perfectly named blend of 65% Pinot Blanc and 35% Melon de Bourgogne is indeed ripe for shellfish, sporting aromas of wet stone, chamomile, coconut flake and lemonade on the nose. The palate sizzles in acidity, popping with flavors of bright citrus and oyster shell. $25.'

Tasting Panel 92: 'Flavors of honeyed pear and lemon blossom fully engage the senses while mineral tones tiptoe in on the bright finish.' By King Estate.

Pleasing and pear like cool climate riesling. No botrytis evident. Kabinett level sweetness. Decent acid. Unevolved flavor and texture elements. Will improve with more bottle age. 91+/100.

Native yeasts. Aged a year in French oak cooperage. Very dark red violet. One ample, sweet carmenere with the class of its origins. Time in cooperage doesn't hurt either. Adds suavity and complexity. Big time sweet, forward, carmenere appeal. With dusting of tannin to keep it honest. Good acid too. Best Primus carmenere I've tasted. In fact, on of the best Chilean carmeneres. 92/100.

Full, deep, even grand scaled. Always first class. Gooseberry and grapefruit. Dazing varietal display on the palate. Great precision focus. Well balanced. Worth the premium every vintage. 93/100.

Est. 1955 in Marlborough's Awatere Valley; a portion of the cuvee is lees aged and no malo; 3 g/L RS. Pungent citricity from one of Marlborough's cooler zones. The acid is great too, and the palate mighty flavorful. A pleasing degree of New World softness at the finale. 91/100. Enjoyed by attendees. 'Typical. Very sauvignon with some bell pepper.' 'Grapefruit and grass; dusty tone of dried grass too. Fleshy fruited, requisite acidity. I do like its singular nature.'

From shale soil near the coast just south of Swartland; includes a colombard component that has rested 30 days on its grapeskins. Wow, that's a warmer, softer relief. Sauvignon ripe citrus emphasis coupled with saturated colombard green fruit. Well rendered. Decent acid, if no match for Euro sauvignons. The combo makes for a unique and appealing drink. Eminently well balanced through it all. 91/100. Attendees enjoyed the concept, noting both varietals. Gained character with aeration. Even a WOTN vote, unusual for a New World wine. Orders taken.

Wine Spectator 91 - #49 TOP 100: 'A lovely, silky white, with vivid acidity and a subtle streak of chalky sapidity layered with flavors of yellow apple, pear, lemon meringue and chamomile, plus a rich touch of hazelnut. Refreshing hints of quinine and grapefruit pith make a sweep on the finish. Drink now through 2030.'

At Civrac; half each merlot, cab sauv; 2/3 on gravel, 1/3 on clay; vines average 25 years; aged between 12-18 months in barrel according to vintage. First time with this estate, though it's owned commonly with Ch. Panigon, which I stock. Holding its color blackness well. Still fruity but now softer than were young '16 clarets. Nice. More than ample portion of cabernet black fruit for Medoc. Barrel mellowed but not scented. A nice bottle of fairly mature claret at a great price. 91+/100.

90% merlot, 10% cab franc; vines averaging 40 years; aged 15 months in oak barrels. Dark red violet. Black merlot push and depth, with decided, integrated, and inviting barrel complex. Yes, old vines merlot intensity with plenty of barrel sophistication. For a second wine, Grand Vin! 94/100. WOTN by a long shot. 'Now we get real wine. Super nice nose. Really good St. Emilion version. Complex; tannins in balance.' 'Great stuff and will develop.'

Very dark still. Boy, that's good and sweet 2018 Right Bank merlot. With St. Georges blackness. Spot on nose. Sweet on the palate too, and snappy. Some tannin yet to shed. Will carry on. 92+/100.

75% semillon, 20% sauvignon blanc, 5% muscadelle; vine age 45-48 years; unfiltered. Dubourdieu's the master of semillon. Lemon curd and lemon custard. Plus old vines semillon body. Ho hum, just another winner in this series. Fresh airs of sauvignon hover over the base aroma. Tangy, juicy acidity of cool 2024. Gives relief to a normally denser wine. I'd call it a success. 92+/100. Commentators found less SO2 than usual, revealing 'Lots of Graves flavor' and 'Smells of Graves origins'. 'Nice balance; long and good.' 'Nicely structured, crisp, fresh, refreshing.' 'Best Graville I can remember.'

At Galgon, northwest of Lalande de Pomerol; 80% sauvignon blanc, 20% semillon; vines 15 to 35 years old. That's a nice and lemony Bordeaux sauvignon that doesn't go overboard like sauvignons from cooler and warmer vintages. 'Temperate' it is. And semillon lays down a nice and smooth base. Yes, the two in harmony on the palate. Good acidity and that light semillon glycerol. This is my image of classic Bordeaux Blanc. So facile at the table. More substantial than your basic aperitif. 91/100.

At Preignac; old vines; 95% semillon, 5% sauvignon blanc; owned by a former part owner of Chateau Suduiraut. Wow, syrupy sweet aromatic concentration. Honey dipped pineapple slices. Impressive, pollen like botrytis display too. Yikes! Even though just shipped, there's nothing awkward about the nose. Palate equally saturated in flavors and feels. I mean, this is INTENSE. The acid is still coated; still, there's inherent harmony to its overall makeup, which promises a long and fruitful life. 95+/100. Easily WOTN. Many orders taken. 'Classic Sauternes! Wow!' 'Wow - just wow! Superb nose and palate. Has it all. Cru Classe quality.' 'Oh yeah! Grapefruit, pineapple, botrytis honey. Acid to match the sweetness. Explosively rich fresh walnut, fruit cake. Beyond a doubt.'

All malbec; 32 year old vines; native yeasts. Black wine indeed. Softer and mellower than its appearance would suggest. Good vintage here. Plush, not obdurate. Very fruity nose and palate. Mary's touch of elegance. More ease than the 2020 showed. Bravo. 92/100.

50 ? 50. A green fruit combo that leans more toward the colombard half than the sauvignon. Though sauvignon grapefruit lurks. Impressively aromatic and faithful. Good acidity throughout, and no tartness. There's a smoothness to the texture. Refreshing and well balanced. Many aperitif and table apps. Never had a disappointment here. 91/100.

Fourth generation; from a Clos in the cru Chateau Thebaud; 55+ year old vines; native yeasts. Stony; decidedly granite based. More about terroir than sur lie, and that's impressive. There's fruit too. That tender fruit center to fine Muscadet that alleviates its innate austerity. This is one class Muscadet, and I avow it will age famously. 93/100. A group favorite. 'Huge flavor, distinctive, special.' 'Certainly the richest, most flavorful muscadet I've had.' 'Penetrating, full of terroir.' Palate weight, splendid richness and minerality; superior acidity.'

Cooperative of only 10 member families, all within Le Pallet, one of the AOC's seven Crus. Riper, softer, and more abundant than the well liked 2021. Retains its Muscadet raciness though. Yes, that classic Muscadet up front clean cut and the softer, more forgiving core. Well balanced and price worthy rep. 91/100. Described by attendees as ample and creamy textured.

Est. 1976; historic cellars beneath the fortress of Chinon; 35 year old vines on gravel. Rich, warm, ripe raspberry and spicy seed peppercorn aromas. A lush vintage of this, while retaining a cool Loire cab franc aura. Just as rich and generous on the palate. The cool disposition remains. Little or no tannin, so it could be cooled down further. 92/100. Met with attendee approval. 'A wine of immediate charm and usefulness.' 'Nice, as always.' 'Loire cab franc typicity.' 'Pull out the charcuterie or roast a chicken.'

Nice, light quince and lime Vouvray chenin aromas. It's cool rather than cold on the palate and perhaps more flavorful for it at opening. Good acid to balance the light sweetness. Well priced Vouvray. 91+/100. This came forth well. Very popular; WOTN for at least one attendee. 'Quince flavor, tonic minerality.' Real chenin, real Vouvray!' Very long and balanced.' 'Good example of Vouvray and enjoyable; good acid, light sweetness.'

4th generation estate on the south bank of the Cher. OK, here starts the sauvignon subset. With a bang! Geez, this is racy, cool, nostril etching and penetrating sauvignon. Juicy palate. Sweet fruit joins its inherent citricity. Just a lovely take of specific terroir character. 91/100. Widely liked and considered a good value by attendees. Aromas of peach, grapefruit, bell pepper, and cat pee noted. 'Forward and refreshing; ready for summer use.' 'Should be super popular.'

On limestone and clay soils. I don't like to use the descriptor 'clean', but my first impression here is clean white linen. Not just 'wholesome clean' but exciting clean. Flavors equally 'clean'. Geez, this is so bright and enticing in approach, that it denotes a special form of Sancerre I hadn't recognized before in Auchere's wines. Its own thing, and all the more power to it. 92+/100. Liked by attendees. 'Very bistro style.' 'Primary; grapeskins, lime.' 'Real cut. Is this what they call nervous-'

Nose showing subtle maturity. AOC peaches and cream take on sauvignon. Gets fresher and crisper with aeration. Relative richness of Fume sauvignon, with enough acidity for good balance. 92/100. Attendees noted: 'Upscale.' 'Real concentration.' 'Minerality.' 'Length.'

From the lower slopes of Chorey les Beaune; vine age: 45 years; 1 year in seasoned barrels; unfiltered. Medium dark ruby. Rich in Beaune pinot strawberry and other red fruits. Seems to be some barrel aging added breadth and depth. Red fruited all the way, with exceptional acidity. Bouquet development to come, aided by a dusting of fine grained tannin. Well poised. 91+/100.

75-100 year old vines owed by Jerome's grandfather; only 200 cases per year; Gold Medal ? International du Gamay. Thanks to very old vines, this is the most intense Saint Amour I've nosed. This is supposed to be one of the lighter bodied Grands Crus. Can't tell by this one. Yes, fully concentrated, even earthy. 92+/100. Generally appreciated by attendees, though a couple judged it overdone for Saint Amour. The attendee who took it home found it rounder and more engaging the next day. He did some research and found that St. Amour has not one but two distinct terroirs and styles, this one's denser and less delicate than the perceived norm. Aeration, for him, earned it a WOTN award.

Est. 1861; highest and steepest vineyards of the AOC; on granite, schist, and andesite; the oldest vines (40+ years) go into this cuvee, which is commonly purchased by French embassies; Pavillon is the building, an old hunting lodge, and Chavannes the lieu dit; Shares its Art Deco label with Chateau Thivin, as the owning families are intermarried. This always sings. Seems more material this vintage than usual in addition to its classic CdB elegance. Sits just right. A classic. Oh, and the beauty, equilibrium, and flow on the palate! Totally charming. Not without extract grip at the end either. Will endure, improve. 93+/100.

Est. 1590 at Maligny; 25-35 year old vines on Kimmeridgian (or Portlandian-) limestone facing south/southeast. Smells Portlandian, which is Petit Chablis' foundation, despite the website terroir claim. I mean, it smells of calcaire but of a heavier sense than Kimmeridgian. There's marl involved in the nose also. Full bodied for the vintage. Suggests low yields. Young and promising. Delivers a lot of weight for a Petit. 91+/100. Well liked by attendees. 'Plenty of Chablis flavor - real Chablis!'

25-40 year old vines. Smell the difference? This is a terroir lesson. More calcaire cut, cool, minerality, chalkiness. States its superiority clearly. Yes, the superior ventilation, class. The acidity is well managed in this cool year. This has even more to gain from bottle age than the Petit. 92+/100. Attendees continued where I left off, noting this wine's superiority as well as the terroir difference. 'Textbook Chablis.' 'Brighter, more citrus driven bouquet that carries over to the palate. More classic.'

Est. 1590; at Maligny; 80-100 year old vines. Nose full but shy on terroir statement. Well, it's coming on now with swirling. Sound calcaire foundation and old vines concentration. Old vines spell full body on the palate too. Again, it's not easy to coax terroir forth on the palate at opening. Unless warmth and aeration spring this forward, I'd sit on it awhile. 93+/100. Well, they sure did. Widely voted WOTN. 'Very attractive and real Chablis nose. Very rich and long; VV shows. Went super well with my creamed spinach omelet next day.'

40 year old vines on a south facing clay-limestone slope yielding 3 tons per acre. Nice and Chalonnais resinous and clearly barrel complexed. Classic, and upscale for the price of white burgundy these days. Not as fully textured as the nose promised. Gains with air and warmth though. No, I was too quick to judge. This is building mass quickly. Now settling into that well proportioned 2023 sweet/acid balance. Lengthening too. More barrel complexity joins the picture. Will go and grow. 92+/100.

Good body and aromatic expression. I love the body and texture. Shows more varietal apple and citrus on the palate. That 2023 good ripe/tart balance. Very versatile at the table. 91+/100. Generally enjoyed by attendees. 'Clean chardonnay nose. Palate speaks of Macon with good acid here.'

All jacquere; 40 year old vines; native yeasts, aged three months on lees in seasoned barrels. The complete package. Smells of fruit, lees, barrel sojourn. Full and rangy. Tangy acidity too. Well textured. Really gets the mouth watering. 92/100

4 generation estate once selling to the cooperative; in the Terrace de Chassis zone; from vines planted in 1996; unwooded; Martine's selection. Full, deep, dark, intricate. The classic quartet of northern Rhone syrah aromatics plus a special terroir complex. Well concentrated set of Crozes flavors too. Smooth and savory mouthfeel. Bouquet development potential but little tannin to shed; it's well coated. 93+/100.

All grenache; single vineyard of 45 year old vines. The greater warmth of grenache. Warm strawberry and raspberry compotes. Black pepper versus white. Yes, more richness and savor. Seems to feel more comfortable with its terroir. Balance and length. Moderate heat; an attribute. 92+/100.

All syrah; 45+ year old vines in two parcels bordering Chateauneuf. Strange bottle emblem; seems to combine several area landmarks. Dark red violet syrah color. That has some northern Rhone aspirations. Cool raspberry, white pepper, white flowers. Not as aromatic on the palate. Well balanced with good acidity. No heat. 92+/100. Well liked by attendees. Several comments attested to northern Rhone aspects. 'So Syrah!' 'Syrah for sure.' 'Needs some time to develop fully.'

60% grenache, 30% syrah, 10% carignan; our best-selling Rhone Valley wine. Cheap Wine Heavy Bottle Award. We've had the 2022 for the last three years and have watched it grow. Just arrived 2024 is less revealing at younger age upon opening and maybe due to travel weariness. It's sweetening up and becoming more revealing with aeration. 2024 medium bodied. Good acidity. Fine tannin. Balanced; wears alcohol well, Long finish. Shows promise. 90+/100. Attendees found this a bargain. 'Very spot on; easy to enjoy.' 'Grenache shows; just what it should be.'

By a Chateauneuf du Pape estate; 70% grenache blanc, 20% picpoul, 10% viognier; the first two from Richerenches, Vaucluse, the viognier from northern Rhone. Sound and vinous and full bodied grenache blanc basis. Picpoul contributes freshness, and the scant viognier component really adds pleasingly aromatic highlights that are less likely to come from southern Rhone planted viognier. Concept over terroir, and a very fine concept indeed. Yes, altogether the body, the lift, and the overtones. And balance. I'm impressed. Deal price! 91/100. Well liked; WOTN candidate. 'Pleasant and very rich. Nice aromatic nose and palate from viognier.' 'Hint of viognier on the nose. Picpoul adds acidity. Honey aroma and flavors and sweetness. Engaging. More lively than many Cote du Rhone blancs.'

80% grenache, 20% syrah. Dark red violet. Quite the appearance for a Ventoux. Yes, I can tell the strategy with the syrah has led it to play a more than 20% role in this wine's personality. Dark and fresh fruit for age three Ventoux. Syrah tannin to resolve. One ambitious, cellar worthy Ventoux and the best I've had from Delas. Former vintages were more rustic. 91+/100.

Est. 2005 on the Tyrrhenian seacoast of eastern Corsica, the cooler side of the island; vines averaging 25 years; yields three tons per acre. Medium to medium dark carmine. Warm and savory. Laced with jam, tar, and minerals. Unique. Medium body of 2024. Building flavor intensity as it warms. Again, 'savor' is the watch word. More bottle age and time after shipping will enhances is attributes. 91+/100. This Corse pair 'invoked a lot of discussion and general praise'. 'Spicy/fruity.' 'Flavorful in a delicate style.' 'Nice wine!'

Only native varieties at this estate; small percentage of rare minustellu in the cuvee. Deeper, darker, more purple. Grape or vintage difference? This has more richness and ripeness and depth. Another intriguing set of aromas here from another native grape. Good fun. Yes, warmer vintage talks. A lot of fruit savor, extract, mouthfeel. I'm getting more for less. Maybe the former will rally with air and age. For now, my service order is justified. Full finish. 92+/100.

Average vine age 50 years; in loess over gravel. No surprise the nose is mainly vinous. These are not aromatic varieties. Auxerrois adds richness. The acidity is not unexpectedly modest, even in a cool vintage. These are not tart varoieties, and old vines add a glycerol sheen. Will improve with aeration and aging 92+.100. One of the most appreciated whites. 'A pretty stand up version. Improved with air and served well with dinner. Needed breathing.'

Brisk, tonic gewurz nose. Bay, laurel, thyme. Gewurz glycerol with a bitter foil in conclusion. Moderate or coated acidity at this stage. Still, there's lots to get excited about in this. 91+/100.

7.4 g/L. Dry, crisp, and incisive. Plenty of varietal character too. The acidity is moderate in 2023, as are the feels and flavors. Well, some acid rings in on the back palate. 91/100

41 g/L. More fruit expression as well as sweetness. The acid is up to the sweetness, and this is the more flavorful of the pair. Can't complain about the prices. Great Mosel winemaker here. 91/100.

Est. 1849; named after the first reichsrat (councilman), who had a hand in the opening of the Suez Canal; his wine was served at the ribbon cutting; 7.7 g//l acidity, 2.7 g/l RS; unfined. Pfalz riesling nuts and grains, relative power versus zones farther north. This is just plain swell!/ The acidity and RS are spot on for trocken, presenting a truly harmonious package. Always a good bet, this is one of the top vintages I've tasted. HUGE meal time range of possibilities. 92/100. Very popular with attendees. 'Very lovely riesling nose and palate. Super dry, flavorful, and long.' 'Pure riesling, very well balanced; dry but not austere.' 'One serious bottle. 'Great acid, great cut, very long saline finish.' 'Can surely cellar.'

7-45 year old vines; aged a year in large cooperage; unfined. Impressively dark red violet color for zweigelt. Yeah, this is a serious, age worthy take. Well textured and balanced for current food service. More bouquet complexity on the horizon. 92+/100.

8 months on lees. Light yellow; star bright. Good apple/legume gruner aroma with the zone's terroir richness. Good race, acidity, texture. This is exceptionally well textured for the variety. Lasting. Reasonably priced. 91/100.

From Val do Salnes; custom cuvee for European Cellars by Martin Codax, the largest cooperative of the region; native yeasts; aged 3 months on lees. Seems stronger than 12% on the nose, and that's ok. Good albarino pungency. White peach, honeysuckle. Full delivery. Likewise on the palate. 2024 medium bodied. Very satisfactory. 91/100.

Owned by La Rioja Alta; 3 vineyards at 2400'; aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 75% new, 25% once used. 2021 fresh and tart smelling. Little sign of new barrels. Well, there's barrel earned roundness and rich extra dimension though. Also both wood and fruit tannins. Plenty of 2021 acid. Long, chewy finish. Perplexing; not at all like the 2020 Crianza. Intriguing cellar potential. 92+/100.

Est. 1986 at Briones, Rioja Alta; all tempranillo; 45 year old vines; aged 14 months in French oak barrels; unfined, unfiltered. Dark red black; looks younger than 8 years. Good full and rich take on modern Rioja. Pedigree of terroir, old vines fruit intensity, subtlety of French vs American oak. Gaining suavity with barrel and bottle age. Still considerable grip of fine grained tannins. Good acid. Surprisingly not ready to drink. 93+/100. Improved into the next day, shedding much of its initial tannin, where after it was judged commentator's WOTN.

All tempranillo; Mingortiz vineyard planted in 1964; aged 16 months in new French oak barrels. Red black; very young appearance. Loaded for bear. Very dark fruited, dense, deep, and complex. Takes up the oak and power admirably thanks to old vines fruit concentration. Grand Vin. Oh, and the acid it great too, so there's nothing top heavy about all the rest. This is simply awesome stuff by any measure. A meal in a glass. 97+/100. WOTN candidate. 'Wow. Real Rioja and still quite young. Will live a long, fine life. Great balance. Yes, long and fine.' 'Big stuff! Youthful and with some unintegrated oak. High pitched aromatic elements on the palate and plenty of acid. Certainly a quality wine.'

35 year old vines. 18 months in American oak. Mature bouquet. Relatively light body of 2017. Purely positive aromas of American oak barrels. Mature, balanced, and flavorful, if, again, on the light side. Tannin largely resolved. Take it to the table once the evenings turn cooler. 92/100. Attendees generally liked this, their comments paralleling mine. 'Old fashioned style, authentic, very long, and ready now.'

Est. 1908; at Samaniego; 85% viura, 15% malvasia; 30-80 year old vines at 1800', highest vineyards of the property. The more aromatic malvasia is less in the foreground than it was in the well liked 2023 vintage, and that's OK with me. Good viura scene here. The two seem better proportioned this vintage. Yes, viura's suave texture and generosity even in a cool year. Adroitly coats the vintage acidity. Well balanced and texturally ideal for a wide range of table apps. 92/100. Very popular with attendees; WOTN candidate. 'Fresh and flavorful; quite complex.'

Wine Enthusiast 92: 'This bright violet-red colored wine has a bouquet of black plum, caramel and orange zest. Silky tannins ply the palate, backed by flavors of pomegranate, cherry, milk chocolate and licorice. A note of orange zest dominates the finish.'

60% carinena, 40% garnacha. Aged a year in oak barrels, 80% French, 20% American. Very dark red black. Doesn't show much color maturation. Carinena to the fore, black and peppery. Evolving at a glacial pace. Yes, tight and tannic still, but holding onto its fruit all the same. Have always liked this, even at the normal price. I'll have to get another case next order. 93+/100.

A year in French oak barrels. Medium dark and jolly ruby cast. Mmm, that sweet maraschino aroma of xino. Easy going. Equally so on the palate. Such gentle flow, with just a dusting of tannin on the back palate to keep it honest. Delish. 92+/100.

Enclave of Cotes de Provence with relatively high elevations midway between Aix and Saint Tropez; given its AOC in 1993; cinsault, grenache, syrah. Medium red orange. Fresh and high altitude soaring. Totally well organized encepagement. Just as alluring as the 2023 and even brighter. Lays so right on the palate. Flavor set confirms aromatic set. Just a joy, paragon of good balance. Will serve equally in aperitif, lunch, brunch, and light dinner entree roles. 92/100. Well liked by attendees. Seemed to grow fuller with warmth and air. 'Big enough to handle dinner.' 'Long, raspberry finish.' 'Delish!!

Just a beautiful, limpid baby pink appearance. Pink peach nose. Just right. Good body, texture, flavor, balance. Generous. Unique. Good acidity. 92/100.

Touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz. Correct 10 year old tawny show of original fruit and wood aged complexity, suavity. Love the strength and sweetness. The best rendition of this I've nosed. Strength balances considerable sweetness. Delaforce finesse makes the scene too. Bravo. Great way to end the work afternoon. 95/100.

All pinot noir. 6 g/L RS. Disgorged 11/24. What a grand nose. The body of noirs, the finesse of Champagne. Finest of toasty autolysis bouquet alongside the most finesse-ful of red fruits. Yikes. Pin point mousse. Suavity of long aging en tirage. Maintains its style and high standards. 96/100.

Est. 1887; 40% xarello, 30% each macabeu, parellada; disgorged 6/25. One upscale cava. Naturally. It's from the best sector and a top estate. Upholds the distinction of the series. You get autolysis without earthiness. Yes, well exceeds the en tirage minimum, and that shows. The mousse is very fine, the doughiness forthcoming, the finish long. Shows the way. 92/100. Well liked all around. 'Creamy everything! Big mouth feel. Good acidity.' 'Very flavorful; nothing subtle.' 'Lees driven bouquet. Full, rich palate. Good balance. Very nice.'

Properly appley glera. Nothing fancy about it, but who's complaining at the price-/ High brut with good acid to complement. If I were a sommelier, I'd make this a glass pour. At a huge margin! 90/100.