[#18 Wine of the Year 2025] "The compelling Conti Costanti 2021 Brunello captivates with pronounced aromas of fragrant purple flower, eucalyptus, Mediterranean brush and perfumed berry. All about class and extreme finesse, the elegant palate delivers succulent wild raspberry, crushed Marasca cherry, spiced orange zest and star anise set against a backbone of fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity lends balance and great intensity. Year after year Andrea Costanti turns out what are among the very best wines from Montalcino, and the 2021 is no exception, it’s an absolute stunner with great aging potential." -Kerin O'Keefe, 99KO

"The bright red 2021 Barolo Conteisa is highly expressive and ramps up the volume on the nose. It makes a statement with its aromas of wild spice, redcurrants, cherries, ripe tannins, and intense ripe orange fruit. It has a lot of clarity but offers dramatic intensity and completeness, with mouthwatering acidity, angular tannins, and a fantastically long finish. Flirting with perfection, this is an exceptional wine all around to return to over the coming decades." -Jeb Dunnuck, 99JD

"Served from the 500 ml bottle, the apricot-golden colored 2003 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie offers a beautifully deep, intense, concentrated and at the same time precise, fresh and refined fruit aroma of fully ripe and cooked peaches along with refreshing lemon and spicy/mineral flavors on the nose. On the sweet and fruity, highly elegant, balanced and finesse-full palate, there is a gorgeous precision, freshness and piquancy that leads to a correspondingly precise, piquant and salty finish that is simply great and almost unrivaled. This 2003 is one of the greatest, because it's the finest and most balanced Moelleux of this tasting, and if I had to draw a comparison it would be to the 1959 and the 1945." -Wine Advocate, 98+WA

"From another early, low-acid vintage, the golden shining, botrytis-free 2003 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux Première Trie shows a beautifully intense, extraordinary clear, refined and elegant bouquet of ripe fruits intertwined with mineral flavors –– fascinating! Sweet, intense and delicate on the palate, this highly elegant and lovely concentrated Chenin is of great purity, balance and finesse. Its length is impressive, its generous flow is extremely sensual and its overall intensity and accessible generosity are absolutely gorgeous. This 2003 is great today, but will probably even more fascinating in 50+ years. The balance and drinkability is superb. Highly recommended." -Wine Advocate, 96+WA

"An incredible wine, the 2009 La Sangre De Jonata is 98% Syrah and 2% co-fermented Viognier that was brought up in 50% new oak. I was blown away by this wine on release, rating it close to perfect from barrel twice and 99 points from bottle, and I'm thrilled to see it continue to show so well today. Still youthfully purple/ruby-hued, it has an incredible bouquet of ripe blackberries, beef blood, scorched earth, crushed stone, and hints of leather. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has incredible purity in its aromas and flavors, beautifully integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a great, great finish. It's still not fully mature and would stand toe to toe with (if not beat) a great Hermitage. It needs an hour in a decanter today and will evolve for another 10-15 years. Bravo!" - Jeb Dunnuck 98JD (2023)

"Incorporating some 40% declassified young-vine Clos des Mouches, the 2020 Côte de Beaune Blanc delivers aromas of pear, freshly baked bread, white flowers and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with lively balancing acids, it's already drinking well." -Wine Advocate

"The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru shoots well above the bottle I tasted in March 2022. This has a little more reduction on the nose compared to its peers, with dark cherries, violets and a subtle oyster shell element that manifests with aeration, perhaps even cola too. It gains a little delineation with time in the glass. The palate is very smooth and focused, with an almost satin-like texture and some high-quality oak. But there is some lovely fruit here. It's very pure, with white pepper-tinged black cherries and blueberry towards the finish. Very long on the aftertaste. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Drink between 2027-2048)" -Vinous, 94VM

"A super-elegant Chassagne-Montrachet that offers all you want from this appellation, the balance of ripe-lemon character and flinty minerality spot-on. Super-silky and very graceful on the medium-to full-bodied palate. Then the finish doesn't want to stop. Drink or hold." -James Suckling, 96JS

Notes from the Producer:

"A small parcel that yields just six barrels. Impressive citrus aromas with a flinty edge, as well as pithy lemons and grapefruit. It delivers a mouthwatering impression of power and clarity. The palate has a very succulent, powerful and refined feel with a stunning, saline mineral cut. Supreme concentration and power. This is great. Organically farmed grapes. Drink or hold through to 2025+." -James Suckling, 97JS

"A ripe and generous Corton-Charlemagne with a caramelized-pear aroma, but the stony character that’s typical for the site is the dominant aspect of the wine. Serious structure here! Drink or hold." -James Suckling, 95JS

"Subtle at first, with mouthwatering citrus and apple flavors, plus notes of salted, preserved lemon that are crisp and focused. Details of tarragon, toasted sesame seed and Himalayan sea salt expand on the long, expressive finish, where a hint of candied ginger lingers. Drink now through 2036. Just 150 cases imported." -Wine Spectator, 94WS

"Made with 100% Sangiovese, the Fattoria Le Pupille 2023 Poggio Valente was bottled in June 2025 and is scheduled for release soon. The 2023 vintage was challenging across much of Tuscany due to persistent spring rain and widespread mildew pressure that severely affected Merlot and other early-ripening grapes, but conditions in southern Maremma were more balanced thanks to the area’s naturally ventilated setting. Poggio Valente benefits from its position between two hills with the sea directly in front, creating constant airflow and a luminous quality to the wines. The Sangiovese is planted on heavier soils rich in clay and limestone, lending structure and depth, and the estate is in the process of refining its élevage by moving away from smaller oak toward larger vessels, with more than 50% of the wine now aged in botti grandi to achieve a crunchier and more transparent expression. The plan for this wine is working out beautifully." -Wine Advocate, 95WA

"A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the Fattoria Le Pupille 2023 Saffredi represents a classic expression from a fresh vintage that ultimately performed far better than expected despite mid-season mildew pressure. The estate continues to refine its use of wood to emphasize brightness and fruit purity, a shift that is especially evident here. The wine shows notes of dark cherry, ripe blackberry, spice and hints of creamy chocolate. While the 2022 vintage emphasized harder tannins, this vintage is defined by generosity and luscious fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular appears crunchy, youthful and fresh, giving the wine energy and forward momentum." -Wine Advocate, 98WA

"Full and rich-tasting at first sip, then brilliant in acidity and citrus on the palate. Lots of chalky, mineral, lemon-zest and saline flavors are tight and refreshing. So linear and energetic. Made from 50% greco, 34% falanghina and 16% fiano. Drink now or hold." -James Suckling, 94JS

"Complex and expressive, this white offers a mix of peach, lemon cake, oyster shell and baking spice flavors. Deftly balanced and charming, pastry notes emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 1,000 cases imported." -Wine Spectator, 92WS

[#14 wine of 2025] "The impressive 2019 Vigna Rionda Riserva from Massolino captivates with its combination of structure, intensity and elegance. It opens with classic Barolo aromas of red berry, wild rose, dark spice, leather and a balsamic whiff of camphor that on the composed, full-bodied palate segue into more defined sensations of crushed raspberry, cranberry, licorice and tobacco. Showing the nuance of this extraordinary vintage, it’s still youthfully austere, with a backbone of firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity that lends youthful tension. This is one I’d love to try again in ten years or so. Drink 2034–2049." Just 300 cases imported. Drink 2034–2049." -Kerin O'Keefe,  98KO

"A ripe brick red color, the 2020...Parafada is layered, ripe, and spicy, with notes of licorice, dried cherries, incense, cedar, potpourri, and baking spice. Pure and expansive, it’s weightless yet has penetrating richness...offers sweet tannins that weave seamlessly with fresh acidity...A gorgeous wine from Massolino, it offers a wide drinking window over the coming 15-20 years. 175 cases imported. (Drink between 2024-2044)" -Jeb Dunnuck,  97JD

"The 2016 Pinot Noir Bodega Headlines Vineyard Cuvee Elizabeth is another more elegant, almost perfect wine from this estate. Thrilling notes of smoked red cherries, earth, forest floor, and graphite all give way to a medium-bodied, vibrant, racy wine that has flawless balance, crunchy, vibrant fruit, notable tannins, and a great finish. This is another awesome wine that will benefit from a year or two of bottle age and keep for a decade. (Drink between 2021-2031)" - Jeb Dunnuck, 98JD

"The Ornellaia 2023 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot... The wine shows impressive richness and concentration with a bouquet that leans botanical and complex, marked by dark fruit, Mediterranean thyme and rosemary...The texture is velvety and polished, delivering beautiful richness with a sense of succulence that feels expansive on the palate. According to proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi, the goal is to establish a clear through line focused on freshness and balancing fruit and spice while avoiding excess ripeness. This is a meticulously made Ornellaia that captures the vintage with remarkable elegance. The wine was bottled in July 2025 and is scheduled for release in March 2026." -Wine Advocate, 98WA

"The 2023 Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate comes from grapes planted in 2000, and the wine was fermented with around 10% whole clusters. It has dramatically unfurling scents of Morello cherry, cranberry and blackberry that give way to nuances of tea leaves, conifer, mushrooms and floral perfume. The palate is bursting with layers of earthy, spicy fruit, and its new oak spice is seamlessly integrated. It’s framed by fine, dusty tannins and mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, layered finish. 850 cases were made." - Wine Advocate, 96WA

"The 2024 As Sortes Val Do Bibei offers...subdued aromatics of dried herb and wet stone. There’s tension and minerality from the high altitude and northern exposure of the Godello vines, not to mention the age of the vines, the oldest in the producer’s book. A precise, laser-focused wine of integrated acidity...with so much freshness from the cooler days...at this higher elevation...it’s just gorgeous. Drink now through 2036." -Jeb Dunnuck, 96JD

"A core of sweet, ripe cherry, currant and blueberry fruit is the essence of this succulent red. A mesh of civilized tannins holds the flavors, ending with elements of spice and mineral. Fleshy and charming." -Wine Spectator, 93WS

The Magnolia Oolong is a sparkling version of the Jinxuan "Golden Lily" Oolong tea from Fujian Province, China, harvested at 1,000 metres of elevation and intensively scented with magnolia blossoms from Guangxi Province. It is radiantly silky — creamy and floral, with bright notes of candied melon, papaya, and crisp pear, luminous and alive, a bottling that genuinely evokes dewy springtime sunshine. And an award winner, selected by the Sommelier Choice Awards as the non-alcoholic wine of the year!

"Occupying a stylistic middle ground between the incisiveness of the 2013 and the fleshier textures of the 2012, Taittinger’s 2014 Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne...has turned out beautifully. It offers aromas of orange peel, peach, pear and brioche mingled with hazelnut and burnt buttered toast. On the palate, it is full-bodied, ample and textural, with a layered yet crisp core of fruit, considerable tension and a long, chalky finish. Harmonious and racy-fresh though it is, this is a marginally richer rendition than the 2013 tasted alongside it, yet both promise excellent longevity and will make for fascinating comparative tastings in the years to come." -Wine Advocate, 97WA

"A great wine with vibrant cassis, red cherries, eucalyptus, violets and licorice on the nose. It’s precise and almost reductive, with smooth and elegant tannins on the palate, a silky texture, a full body and a warming yet well-balanced finish. Deep and complex, with a mint and tobacco aftertaste. Drinkable now, but best in two or three years." -James Suckling, 99JS

"The Tenuta di Trinoro 2023 Campo di Tenaglia is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from a site with deep soils of sand, stones and fractured limestone at 500 meters in elevation. This is a lovely wine—and the most compelling of the three single-vineyard expressions released this year in my opinion—thanks to a finely etched mineral note that rises above black fruit, spice and the wine’s inky concentration. Full-bodied yet precise, it shows excellent focus and balance, with structure that frames rather than overwhelms the fruit. This small release totals 162 cases." -Wine Advocate, 99WA

"This site features barely a foot of dark soil over limestone and rock; entirely destemmed. Dark red-ruby. Fresh, subtle aromas of smoky black cherry, spices and sexy earth tones. A supple, juicy midweight, with nicely focused berry and cherry fruit flavors accented by spices. Ripe tannins spread out to dust the palate on the firm but sweet back end." -Vinous, 90-92VM

"35% whole bunch. Fresh purple. Clean and vibrant up front but a little touch of volatility. Tannins are keeping quieter and the cherry fruit is very attractive. Fine-boned, good length. Tasted Nov 2019." -Jasper Morris, 89-92JM

"30% decorticated, all new wood. A glowing imperial purple. What a wealth of fruit is here, how noble in reason. In another league from the other grands crus chez Thibault. I think the finest Richebourg I have seen from him. There is a coconut effect from the wood. The mid palate is particularly intense. An intense red fruit note, then dark raspberry, and the finish is completely swamped by the fruit." -Jasper Morris, 96-99JM