Reviews

Settlement

Ashmore Vineyard Riesling 2020

Marlborough

Featuring deep alluvial soils and a cooler climate, the Ashmore Vineyard provides an ideal place for riesling the thrive in the Wairau Valley. Settlement crafts a layered wine from this site that perfectly demonstrates the kaleidoscopic flavors of well grown and produced Riesling.

Gary Farrell Winery

Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

Russian River Valley, California

Named for its previous owners, the 100-acre Hallberg Vineyard is today owned and managed by wine industry veterans including vineyard manager Kirk Lokka. Nestled in the Green Valley sub-appellation, the site enjoys refreshing daytime breezes and cool nighttime temperatures. The strong marine influence means less severe daily temperature shifts so the vines never completely shut down, producing fruit with deep, dark color, great structure, silky tannins, darker fruit flavors and earthy characteristics. This blend is a composition of many of the best blocks on this cool, foggy vineyard site, which include clones 667, 777, 828, Pommard and a mysterious “suitcase” selection.

Gary Farrell Winery

Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2021

Russian River Valley, California

The Russian River Selection bottlings are quintessential Russian River Valley wines blended from some of the region’s top vineyards, taking advantage of varied climates and unique site characteristics.  Undoubtedly showcasing a beautiful expression of the varietal and of the appellation’s unique terroir, this Pinot Noir blend captures the richness, purity and elegance that are Gary Farrell Winery’s trademarks.

Gary Farrell Winery

Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2021

Russian River Valley, California

The Russian River Selection bottlings are quintessential Russian River Valley wines blended from some of the winery’s top vineyard sources. They are beautiful expressions of their varietal type and of the appellation’s unique terroir, each blend capturing the richness, purity and elegance that are Gary Farrell Winery’s trademarks. This layered and complex Chardonnay brings together fruit from several of our favorite Russian River Valley vineyard sites.

Ponzi Vineyards

Tavola Pinot Noir 2021

Willamette Valley

Tavola is Ponzi’s delicious early release Pinot Noir, a fruit-forward wine with soft tannins, made primarily from younger, lower elevations vines. Meant for early consumption, it is an unbeatable value for quality Pinot Noir.

Ponzi Vineyards

Laurelwood Pinot Noir 2021

Laurelwood District, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley

Dick and Nancy Ponzi helped put Oregon on the map in the United States and the world, and the Ponzi family has worked continuously for over 50 years leading and innovating in the region and, in the case of Pinot Noir, across the country and indeed the world. Today winemaker Luisa Ponzi continues her work of the last 30 years with the family of Champagne Bollinger, which acquired Ponzi Vineyards in 2021. The estate’s drive to create distinctly pure Pinot Noir, in a distinctly Oregon manner, has never been stronger.

Marietta Cellars

Old Vine Red Lot 74

California, United States

Affectionately known as “OVR,” Marietta’s Old Vine Red is a proprietary red wine made to replicate the field blends of the old vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. A groundbreaking combination of varietals and multiple vintages first produced in 1982, this wine has blazed the path for red blends for decades. With an historic underground following, it is one of the longest lasting and best known red blends produced today. Predominantly comprised of fresh, young Zinfandel, OVR gets its backbone from Petite Sirah with about three years of age in neutral barrel, and its savory component from Syrah with about two years of age in neutral barrel. Occasionally, other varieties like Merlot, Barbera, Carignan, or Grenache will be blended in to complement the other elements. The goal is always to create an enjoyable table wine made with integrity that combines pure fruit, a supple mouth feel and a rich, solid structure.

E. Guigal

Ermitage Ex Voto Rouge 2018

Hermitage

Ermitage Ex-Voto represents the fulfillment of a longtime dream of Marcel Guigal’s to own vineyard land on the hill of Hermitage. Through the purchase of the de Vallouit and J. L. Grippat domaines in 2000, Guigal acquired four exceptional vineyard parcels on this legendary site. The 2001 vintage was the first release of this estate-bottled Hermitage red and white. The quality of the intense old-vine fruit is quite special, but given the Guigal’s already strong work in Hermitage, they decided to only release an Ex-Voto red or white when the wine is utterly exceptional and clearly superior to their appellation bottlings.

Masseria Surani

Fiano 2021

Fiano Puglia IGT

In keeping with a tribute to the local land, the process that goes into making Fiano is noninvasive and allows the characteristics of the local terroir to shine through. The resulting wine is aromatic, marked by notes of white flowers, tangerine, and lime.

Marietta Cellars

Nadi Riesling 2021

Cienega Valley, California

This Dry Riesling comes from a special vineyard named Wirz in the Cienega Valley appellation inland of Monterey, California. These old, dry farmed, head pruned vines produce a small but concentrated crop. The second oldest Riesling in California, this block was planted in 1964.

Marietta Cellars

Nadi Riesling

Cienega Valley, California

This Dry Riesling comes from a special vineyard in the Cienega Valley appellation inland of Monterey, California. These old, dry farmed, head pruned vines produce a small but concentrated crop. The second oldest Riesling in California, this block was planted in 1964.

Sandrone

Dolcetto d’Alba 2021

Dolcetto d'Alba

Sandrone’s Dolcetto d’Alba is produced using Dolcetto grapes from 11 different vineyards, all within the Barolo DOCG. Sandrone’s Dolcetto sees no time in wood and is a remarkably robust and complex example of the variety.

Sandrone

Valmaggiore 2020

Nebbiolo d'Alba

Settlement

Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Marlborough

Some of Settlement’s youngest vines are represented by their eponymous PInot Noir. Planted in 2009, the fruit already shows a level of depth and soul to be expected from such a unique terrain. With loess and clay soils at steep, north facing slopes, the Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir displays a dramatic range of flavor woven into a delicate yet confident structure

Settlement

Poplars Vineyard Chardonnay 2020

Marlborough

Settlement crafts a robust and dynamic chardonnay from the 28 year old vines of the Poplars Vineyard. Coaxing the best from the Mendoza Clone plantings, the wine has a naturally flinty edge that sits in contrast against moderate oak and lees aging.