Mas Sinen Negre Priorat is made from 38% Garnacha, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carinena, 16% Syrah
Aged in 90% French, 10% American oak barrels for 12 months.
Maceration for 21 days. ML in stainless steel tanks.
Clarification with white egg and soft filtration.
The wine shows great spice and leather components, some minerality and a lot of ripe red fruits aromas as well.
This wine is certified organic.
Review:
"Dark, bright-rimmed ruby. Highly perfumed, mineral- and smoke-accented red and dark fruit preserve, baking spice and floral pastille aromas, along with hints of licorice and black tea. Gently chewy and focused on the palate, offering juicy cherry, blackberry and spicecake flavors that deepen and turn spicier as the wine opens up. Finishes impressively long and sappy, with a lingering floral nuance, well-integrated tannins and a jolt of smoky minerality. Raised in new and used barrels, 90% French and 10% American.- Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (March 2021), 93 pts
Thomas Sancerre Rose is made from 100% Pinot Noir.
Vines are 20-55 years old.
Terroir (soil type) is a blend of "Caillottes" and "Terre Blanche".
Everything is machine harvested (which means it is 100% destemmed).
50% Direct press + 50% Saignée (bled) with 12-24 hours of skin contact maceration.
The alcoholic fermentation is done in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Right before bottling, the wine is fined with Bentonite (very light filtration with oenologic clay).
Tasting Notes:
Light, bright pink. Redcurrant, strawberry and chalk on the nose, with a touch of singed orange gaining strength with air. Dusty red fruit and citrus flavors are braced by tangy minerality, which adds lift and cut. Uncompromising in the best way, finishing with excellent clarity and echoes of lemon and orange zest.
Food pairings:
This is a very versatile wine. You can have it on its own in the summer time as an apéritif. But it is also excellent with Hors d'Oeuvres and terrines. It will compliment any white meat dish and poultry. You can also enjoy it with salmon or exotic food (slightly spicy sushi).
Monzio Compagnoni Franciacorta Saten Brut Millesimato
Color: very deep golden yellow, often, with very abundant froth and persistent perlage of great finesse.
Scent: it has a rich spectrum of scents, it is enveloping and almost greasy without any cloyingness; there are sensations of vanilla, biscuit, licorice, anise.
Taste: in perfect correspondence with the nose, even the taste is full, rich, generous, juicy; all well balanced by an acid base that allows the sweet sensations (of ripe fruit) to express themselves without tiring the palate
The name "Saten" means Silk.
The name "Franciacorta" comes from a phrase in the 1100-1200’s for tax exempt. The phrase is "Franzacurta”….referring to tax exempt status of some local towns in Lombardy, Italy. Franziacorta became a DOC in 1967 and was granted the DOCG status in 1995. There are 2000+ hectares (5,400 acres) total for the appellation with over 100 producers. Total production for the DOCG is around 550,000 cases.
Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Dame Voyageuse is made from Grenache 90 % Mourvèdre 4% Syrah 4 % Counoise 1% Vaccarese 1% .
Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Dame Voyageuse is a more approachable version of the La Reine des Bois. It is meant to be enjoyable early compared to her sister Cuvée which is made for the long run.
Color : deep ruby red, opaque.
Aromas : red fruits, changing to touches of leather, black truffles and coffee.
Palate : fat, concentrated and full flavored with a very long liquoriced and fruity finish.
Ageing potential : 6 to 10 years.
Surface : 5 Ha.
Yield : 30 Hl./Ha.
Vineyard age: 60 Years
Terroir : Clay-siliceous on pebble stones
Harvest : by hand
Vinification : 100 % destemmed, long 30 days maceration with a maximum of 34° C temperature.
Estate bottled
Review:
"Moving to the 2019s from bottle, the Grenache-heavy 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Dame Voyageuse offers a beautiful array of both red and black fruits as well as classic Provençal notes of lavender, peppery garrigue, and flowers. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured on the palate, this is another terrific vintage for this cuvée, which remains an incredible value in the market today. It will drink nicely for 10-12 years if stored correctly."
- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2021), 95 pts
Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Dame Voyageuse Grenache 90 % Mourvèdre 4% Syrah 4 % Counoise 1% Vaccarese 1% .
Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Dame Voyageuse is a more approachable version of the La Reine des Bois. It is meant to be enjoyable early compared to her sister Cuvée which is made for the long run.
Color : deep ruby red, opaque.
Aromas : red fruits, changing to touches of leather, black truffles and coffee.
Palate : fat, concentrated and full flavored with a very long liquoriced and fruity finish.
Ageing potential : 6 to 10 years.
Surface : 5 Ha.
Yield : 30 Hl./Ha.
Vineyard age: 60 Years
Terroir : Clay-siliceous on pebble stones
Harvest : by hand
Vinification : 100 % destemmed, long 30 days maceration with a maximum of 34° C temperature.
Estate bottled
Review:
"A fragrant and spicy Chateauneuf that marries richness and structure with finesse and fascination. The fine tannins build beautifully at the self-confidently dry finish, where spicy and chalky elements mingle beautifully, with just a hint of milk chocolate neatly accenting this. A complex blend based on grenache. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (August 2022), 94 pts
Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Dame Voyageuse is made from Grenache 90 % Mourvèdre 4% Syrah 4 % Counoise 1% Vaccarese 1% .
Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Dame Voyageuse is a more approachable version of the La Reine des Bois. It is meant to be enjoyable early compared to her sister Cuvée which is made for the long run.
Color : deep ruby red, opaque.
Aromas : red fruits, changing to touches of leather, black truffles and coffee.
Palate : fat, concentrated and full flavored with a very long liquoriced and fruity finish.
Ageing potential : 6 to 10 years.
Surface : 5 Ha.
Yield : 30 Hl./Ha.
Vineyard age: 60 Years
Terroir : Clay-siliceous on pebble stones
Harvest : by hand
Vinification : 100 % destemmed, long 30 days maceration with a maximum of 34° C temperature.
Estate bottled
Review:
"A fragrant and spicy Chateauneuf that marries richness and structure with finesse and fascination. The fine tannins build beautifully at the self-confidently dry finish, where spicy and chalky elements mingle beautifully, with just a hint of milk chocolate neatly accenting this. A complex blend based on grenache. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (August 2022), 94 pts
Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest equal parts Syrah and Vaccarèse .
This premium cuvee - whose name means "Queen of the Woods" - is from 65-year-old vines, planted on Villafranchian-era terrasses. Yield is 30 hl/ha.
Deep ruby red; opaque. Aromas of red fruits change to wooden touches of leather, black truffles and coffee. Fat, concentrated and full flavored with a very long liquoriced and fruity finish.
Review:
"The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Reine Des Bois is a bigger, richer, more structured wine, which is normal. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, and the rest equal parts Syrah and Vaccarese, its deeper ruby/purple hue is followed by a brilliant perfume of blackberries, black raspberries, ground pepper, violets, and new saddle leather. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with building tannins and great overall balance, it's another wine that shows the style of the vintage brilliantly. It has plenty of up-front charm, but this beauty will evolve nicely for 15-20 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 96 pts
Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois is made from Grenache 75 %, Mourvèdre 10%, Syrah 10 % , Counoise 3% & Vaccarese 2%.
This premium cuvee - whose name means "Queen of the Woods" - is from 65-year-old vines, planted on Villafranchian-era terrasses. Yield is 30 hl/ha.
Deep ruby red; opaque. Aromas of red fruits change to wooden touches of leather, black truffles and coffee. Fat, concentrated and full flavored with a very long liquoriced and fruity finish.
Pairs with red meats, sauce dishes, game animals (woodcock, wild boar) and semi mature cheeses.
Review:
"The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Reine Des Bois is a bigger, richer, more structured wine, which is normal. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, and the rest equal parts Syrah and Vaccarese, its deeper ruby/purple hue is followed by a brilliant perfume of blackberries, black raspberries, ground pepper, violets, and new saddle leather. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with building tannins and great overall balance, it's another wine that shows the style of the vintage brilliantly. It has plenty of up-front charm, but this beauty will evolve nicely for 15-20 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 96 pts
Mordoree Cotes du Rhone Dame Rousse Rose is made from 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 5% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre
Color : rosé, slightly orange (mordorée colour).
Aromas : crystallized oranges and cherries, slightly aniseed.
Palate : very rounded, fresh and long finish.
Ageing potential : 2 to 3 years
Surface : 14 Ha. Yield : 45 Hl./Ha. Vineyard age : 20 years Terroir : clay / chalk,clay / limestone and sandy with pebble stones. Harvest : by hand. Vinification : vat bleeding, temperature control. Estate bottled.
Food pairing: cold meats and delicatessen, fowl, white meats, grilled lamb with Provence herbs, fish soup, fried fish, pastas, pizzas and all Asian dishes.
Review:
"This rosé appears so pretty in the glass with its watermelon hue and presents a refreshing summery nose. Find notes of watermelon slices and yellow peaches sprinkled with sea salt. Think of pairings similar to prosciutto-wrapped melon. This is a solid rosé to enjoy all summer long."
- Wine Enthusiast (May 2023), 91 pts
Color: Deep Red
Nose : Red fruits (raspberry, black-current) and flowers (violet).
Palate : Full, rich and ample, long finish, nice concentration.
Aging potential : 7 to 9 years
Surface : 22 Ha. Yield : 40 Hl./Ha. Vineyard age : 40 years Terroir : Clay / chalk, clay / limestone and sandy with pebble stones. Harvest : by hand Vinification : 100% destemmed , long 30 days maceration with a maximum of 34°C temperature
Pairs well with red meats, grilled meats, game and cheeses.
Review:
"Aromas of spiced cherries, forest berries and sweet spices. Medium body with fine tannins. Layered and textured with a velvety mid-palate. Balanced and harmonious with a focused finish and excellent length. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (May 2023), 93 pts
Mordoree Tavel Rose Dame Rousse is made from Grenache 60 %, Cinsault 10%, Syrah 10 %, Mourvèdre 10%, Clairette 5%, and Bourboulenc 5%.
Nose : steady rose, brilliant and limpid.
Aromas : very complex with flowers, red and white fruits aromas.
Palate : rounded, full bodied with a long lasting aniseed and fruity finish.
Ageing potential : 4 to 6 years
Surface : 9 Ha. Yield : 44 Hl./Ha. Vineyard age : 40 years Terroir : Clay / chalk and sandy with pebble stones. Harvest : by hand Vinification : 100% destemming, cold maceration during 48 h., pneumatic pressing, fermentation at 18° C. Estate bottle
Food pairing: cold meat and delicatessen, poultry, white meats, grilled meats, fried fish, fish soup, pastas, pizzas and all Asian cuisine.
Review:
"Pale watermelon in color, this wine is composed of 60% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah and 10% Clairette. It has a focused nose of ripe watermelon, cherry skin, blueberry, violets and wild herbs. While the wine has plenty of structure for additional cellaring, enjoy it now with a creamy goat cheese."
- Wine Enthusiast (September 2023), 92 pts
Mordoree Tavel Rose Dame Rousse is made from Grenache 60 %, Cinsault 10%, Syrah 10 %, Mourvèdre 10%, Clairette 5%, and Bourboulenc 5%.
Nose : steady rose, brilliant and limpid.
Aromas : very complex with flowers, red and white fruits aromas.
Palate : rounded, full bodied with a long lasting aniseed and fruity finish.
Ageing potential : 4 to 6 years
Surface : 9 Ha. Yield : 44 Hl./Ha. Vineyard age : 40 years Terroir : Clay / chalk and sandy with pebble stones. Harvest : by hand Vinification : 100% destemming, cold maceration during 48 h., pneumatic pressing, fermentation at 18° C. Estate bottle
Food pairing: cold meat and delicatessen, poultry, white meats, grilled meats, fried fish, fish soup, pastas, pizzas and all Asian cuisine.
Review:
More pure framboise, minty flowers, and chalky minerality all define the aromatics of the 2023 Tavel La Dame Rousse, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, flawless overall balance, and a great finish. The blend is 60% Grenache, 15% each of Cinsault and Syrah, and the balance Clairette, coming from a mix of three terroirs: pebbles, limestone, and sand.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Mordoree Tavel Rose Plume de Peintre is made from 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Clairette.
Deep rosé color. Complex and intense aromas of red fruits. The palate is elegant and offers a great balanced acidity. The wine has a long lasting finish.
Risotto with crayfish and asparagus, duck breast roasted with honey, poultry with morels.
Mordoree Tavel Rose Plume de Peintre is made from 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Clairette.
Deep rosé color. Complex and intense aromas of red fruits. The palate is elegant and offers a great balanced acidity. The wine has a long lasting finish.
Risotto with crayfish and asparagus, duck breast roasted with honey, poultry with morels.
Mordoree Tavel Rose Reine des Bois is made from Grenache
Nose: Steady rose, brilliant and cristal clear.
Aromas : very complex : from flowers, white fruits and red fruits (strawberries, pomegranate, rapsberry). Slightly mentho-lated
Palate : fresh, classy, elegant, very long.
Aging capacity : 8 to 10 years.
This wine comes from a parcel planted on a pebbled soil covered with stones, whose geology is typical of the grands crus from the Rhone Valley (a base made of marine molasse from the Miocene period covered with an alpine diluvium from the Villafranchian period). 100 % destemming, cold maceration during 48 h., pneumatic pressing, fermentation at 18° C.
To pair with: roasted and or spicy chicken, duck, goose, fish soup, white meat, seafood and a lot of fishes (tuna, John Dorry, red mulet, etc...).Quite all Asian cuisine. Dishes with garlic, dishes with tomatoes.
Review:
"A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Clairette, the 2022 Tavel La Reine des Bois is a touch darker in hue than its stablemate, the La Dame Rousse, but it's still not among the darkest of Tavels in the glass. That's perfectly okay, as the aromas and flavors are textbook for the appellation: crushed stone, flowering garrigue, ripe cherries and mouthwatering strawberries, all capped off by refreshing citrus-zest notes on the lengthy finish. Full-bodied and full-flavored, it's one of the candidates for top Tavel this year. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2023), 93 pts
Mordoree Tavel Rose Reine des Bois is made from Grenache
Nose: Steady rose, brilliant and cristal clear.
Aromas : very complex : from flowers, white fruits and red fruits (strawberries, pomegranate, rapsberry). Slightly mentho-lated
Palate : fresh, classy, elegant, very long.
Aging capacity : 8 to 10 years.
This wine comes from a parcel planted on a pebbled soil covered with stones, whose geology is typical of the grands crus from the Rhone Valley (a base made of marine molasse from the Miocene period covered with an alpine diluvium from the Villafranchian period). 100 % destemming, cold maceration during 48 h., pneumatic pressing, fermentation at 18° C.
To pair with: roasted and or spicy chicken, duck, goose, fish soup, white meat, seafood and a lot of fishes (tuna, John Dorry, red mulet, etc...).Quite all Asian cuisine. Dishes with garlic, dishes with tomatoes.
Review:
The 2023 Tavel Cuvée De La Reine Des Bois brings more richness and depth, with an almost red wine-like slant to its notes of wild strawberries, crushed stone, and white flowers, with a very distinctive salty, mineral-like style that stands apart. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's similar to the Dame Rousse with its overall balance and purity, with that riveting sense of class that you rarely find in rosé. The blend of the Reine des Bois is 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% each of Clairette and Cinsault, and it's a selection made in the cellar. Rosé doesn't get better.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Murray Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is made from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10%, Merlot , 6% Malbec, 6%, Petit Verdot.
A beautiful ruby color, this wine is very fruity with lots of plum and just a hint of characteristic Red Mountain minerality. It is very smooth with a slight texture of tannin on the back. This wine is a real Cab crowd pleaser.
As much as possible, winemakers Tim and Kelly Hightower take a non-interventionist approach to winemaking. They place great emphasis on vineyard selection, picking, pressing, and blending so that Hightower wines are naturally beautiful and free from pretense. They let the powerful and concentrated fruit from Red Mountain speak for itself. The result is a collection of well-balanced, nuanced wines that reveal something new and interesting each time you open a bottle.
They age in the oak barrels until they are ready to bottle.Neutral Oak 52%, New Oak 48% (American 57%, Hungarian 15%, French 14%, European 14%).
After primary fermentation, all wines are pressed directly into 59 gallon oak barrels. Aging for 19 months.
Estate Vineyard 75%, Shaw Vineyard 21%, Red Willow 4%
Red Mountain AVA 100%
Delicate and refined nose on white flesh fruits aromas followed by delicate flower notes. Very harmonious, fresh and pure on the palate. The intense and mineral touch on the finish is a genuine invitation to fondness.
Grapes come from decomposed granite soil on the slopes of the "Roncharde" , "Côte Chatillon", "La Caille", "Vergelas" and "Corbéry".
Vines are 20 years old on average.
Pneumatic pressing.
Alcoholic fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
40% of the wine is aged in French Oak barrels for 12 months and the other 60% is aged in stainless steel tanks.
Batonnage (stirring of the lees)
Malolactic fermentation
Asparugus with mousseline sauce, pike quenelles, pourlty, lobster en bellevue, scallops, praws with curry sauce, delicate asian dishes.
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon offers an incredible aroma of big black, rich fruit, spring flowers, graphite and toast. Full-bodied with stunning concentration and flavors of dark cherries, black plum, melted milk chocolate. Well integrated French oak, this well balanced wine has supple, but ripe tannins and a lengthy finish. From a single vineyard in Oakville. 14 months in 60% new French oak, Excellent value for Oakville-Napa Valley. Just 350 cases produced.
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon offers an incredible aroma of big black, rich fruit, spring flowers, graphite and toast. Full-bodied with stunning concentration and flavors of dark cherries, black plum, melted milk chocolate. Well integrated French oak, this well balanced wine has supple, but ripe tannins and a lengthy finish. From a single vineyard in Oakville. 14 months in 60% new French oak, Excellent value for Oakville-Napa Valley. Just 350 cases produced.
The Opus One 2018 offers profuse aromas of blackberry, cassis, and black cherry. Elegant notes of violets, white pepper and rose petals follow and together they deliver a very seductive bouquet. The seamlessly layered flavors build to a crescendo of fresh and juicy black-fruit, accented with hints of orange zest, licorice and dark chocolate. Beautifully balanced, the smooth round tannins and fresh acidity combine to create a soft, creamy mouthfeel and extend the flavors into a long persistent finish.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec
Reviews:
Extremely perfumed and floral with lavender, lilacs and violets to the sweet, ripe berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Some slate and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied, yet ever so balanced and refined, with super fine tannins that last for minutes. Fresh herbs, such as bay leaf and lemon grass highlight the dark fruit. The quality of tannin is exquisite with wonderful polish and refinement. Lasts for minutes. So wonderful to taste now, but better after 2026.
99 Points James Suckling
Nickel & Nickel DeCarle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Polished and approachable, the 2018 vintage offers an alluring floral-berry perfume and pops of dark, wild berry and clove flavors. There’s serious volume on the palate, supported by firm tannins and dusty-earth accents that are hallmarks of the Rutherford Bench. Balanced acidity lifts the finish while subtle notes of clove and baking spice linger with each sip.
The 2018 growing season kicked off in late February and eased into a mild spring that gave us extended flowering and uniform clusters throughout the vineyard. Summer continued with an even trend, with consistent temperatures allowing fruit to have beautiful, extended hang time. With no heat spikes we were able to wait patiently for every cluster to achieve perfect phenolic maturity. A no rush approach to harvest allowed fruit to develop beautifully on the vine and the Cabernet came into the winery with mature tannins, great acidity and perfect ripeness. This vintage was “near picture-perfect,” and the resulting wines are generous yet structured and expand on the palate.
Tenacity, innovation and a single-minded commitment to “vineyard and varietal” have established Nickel & Nickel as the leader in single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Every Cabernet offers the purest expression of its vineyard. No two vineyards are alike. And, as the release of the new 2018 Nickel & Nickel Cabernets can attest, neither are any two vintages. Taste the pure, powerful expressions of unparalleled Napa Valley vineyards. The 2018 Nickel & Nickel Single-Vineyard Cabernets are crafted with excellence and made to be savored.
Review:
Sleek and focused, with cassis and cherry puree notes leading the way, backed by a melted red licorice detail and a floral accent on the finish. Toast is judicious too, letting a subtle mineral hint peek in at the very end. Drink now through 2030. 4,157 cases made.
-Wine Spectator 92 Point
Xavier Vignon Ventoux Rouge is made from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah.
Deep dark ruby color with crimson reflects, the wine offers on the nose some hints of black fruits, Provencal spices and garrigue. The mouth is ample with a great freshness yet some concentration. Medium finish with hints of red and black fruits.
The rest of the blend was aged in concrete to preserve the fruit purity.Some grapes (Grenache & Syrah) are co-fermented for more complexity. A small batch of extremely old Syrah has been aged in barrel.
Most of the time, Ventoux offers superb climatic conditions especially in the higher altitude parcels. In 2016 for instance, grapes were harvested in a perfect sanitary state. Both technological and polyphenolic ripeness were close to perfect.
Spicy Pork ribs - Satay chicken skewers - Valencian style Paella - Steamed sea eel with black soya and garlic