Wines

93 Points! A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec, Flora Springs's 2021 Trilogy offers up an intriguing bouquet of ripe cherries, fine sandalwood and a hint of mint too. While not a huge blockbuster wine, it's medium to full-bodied, nicely proportioned and silky in feel, with a lingering finish. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

93 Points! An estate-grown wine from the heart of cabernet country, this gorgeous, fruity and handsomely spiced wine has it all. Plush, ripe black cherries, dried plums, almost-sweet baking spices like cinnamon, vanilla and velvety tannins that don’t keep you from drinking it soon. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2018 Fonbadet is superb. Classically elegant and refined, the 2018 graces the palate with exquisite finesse right out of the gate. Red berry, floral, blood orange and minty flavors convey freshness as the 2018 opens in the glass. Bright acids perk up the nuanced, persistent finish. Readers won't find too many 2018s that are this delicate, sensual and flat-out charming. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

93 Points! The 2018 Fonbadet makes good on the promise it showed last year, presenting a finely chiseled bouquet of blackberry, graphite and light sous-bois scents. Coy at first, it unfolds with confidence. The palate is very cohesive with well-judged natural acidity. There is plenty of coiled-up energy in this Fonbadet, but what really distinguishes it is the fineness of the tannin's and the persistence on the finish. Bravo! - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

94 Points! A blockbuster in a showy, rich style, with bolts of iron grounding a lush stream of chocolate, cherry and blackberry. Mesquite and sandalwood smoke notes linger through the smooth finish, which is flecked with spices, herbs and salt. A long bolt of graphite adds to the well-built feel. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. - Wine Spectator

93+ Points! Aged in demi-muids, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Etienne Gonnet is drawn exclusively from la Crau, a blend of 70% Grenache and 15% each Mourvèdre and Syrah. The nose is toasty and cedary but balanced by scents of red raspberries and strawberries, while the mouth is full-bodied and supple, finishing smooth, sexy and long. It's already approachable, but the wood should integrate nicely over the next several years. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

94 Points! Fermented and aged in a combination of tank and puncheon, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard Old Vines is concentrated, crystal-clear and most importantly, absolutely delicious. Lemon oil, ripe pear, chalk and white pepper blossom in the glass with real lift. Energetic and lively, the 2024 confidently marches across the palate. A rounded, lightly creamy finish wraps things up with a pretty little bow on top. - Billy Norris, Vinous

93 Points! Fermented in equal parts stainless steel and neutral puncheons, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard is a beautiful representation of the variety sourced from vines planted in 1966. It opens with an airy, ethereal bouquet that gradually blossoms with dried jasmine, tangerine, crushed stone and citrus peel aromas. The palate is broad, textural and glossy yet enlivened with invigorating acidity that runs through the vibrant, mouthwatering finish. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

93 Points! Warm slate, lemon flesh and pith, hard apples, chamomile and white tea are nervy and long in this brisk chenin blanc, the concentration of fruit and savory notes making for a fascinating expression of the variety. As lively and mouthwatering as it is right now, there is a bright midterm future ahead as well. Drink or hold. - James Suckling.com

93 Points! A stunning example of Chenin’s range and appeal. Green fig and crunchy melon are open and inviting, layered with a savory jolt of salty mineral, chive and sage notes. Cool minerality keeps pace with the fruit through the firm finish, supported by fine, piercing acidity. Silky, long and pure. Drink now through 2033. - Wine Spectator

From the importer:

Produced from 35+ year old vines, this wine is normally vinified dry.

From a single vineyard parcel on one of the highest points in the appellation. The soils here are comprised of silex (flint) and a small amount of clay over limestone bedrock. Always vinified dry, this is one of the purest expressions of Montlouis that one can find. Plenty of minerals, pear and some quince in the nose, the acidity is crisp and intense giving way to a full wine that opens up over the palate leaving more quince and river rock sensations.

94 Points! The 2020 Shiraz is excellent. It has vibrant yet dark fruit, lashings of five spice and aniseed, garden mint and red dirt, iodine and blood plum. This is spicy, layered, textural, elegant and exciting. The tannins are grippy yet fine, and it is here that the region really comes into its own. The structural integrity of the reds in Frankland is surely what is going to be the basis for the greatness of the region in time. Tannins and shape are naturally present in the wines from here. This is a beautiful wine. - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

97 Points! A recurrent question with amply aged Italian classic reds like Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino is whether or not the extra ageing stipulations in place for the Riserva categories are truly necessary; it can often seem as if younger versions have the edge on older, 'grander' wines, since they show brighter fruit structures. This 2019 Riserva illustrates the benefits of extra age. It's pale, now, with some gentle bricking at the meniscus; the aromas are refined and harmonious, packed not just with red fruits but with autumnal warmth and oak-copse charm, as if the wine was evoking the landscape in which it came into being. On the tongue, it's still quite grandly structured and clearly has further development ahead; look behind those succulent if ample tannins, though, and you'll find beautifully articulated fruit supported by deft redcurrant acidity. Grand Barolo from this outstanding vintage. - Decanter World Wine Awards

93 Points! In the bottle with the red wax capsule, the Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno 2019 Barolo Riserva Cannubi shows a hint of tertiary definition with faded fruit, autumnal leaf and black tea. The wine is finely knit in terms of mouthfeel, and you get a slightly textured effect with granular tannins. Fruit is selected from one part, the Vigna Battista, of the three parcels farmed in Cannubi, with southern exposures on sand, silt and clay. That limestone sand is what adds the special finesse to Cannubi fruit, typically, although climate change has complicated things. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

94 Points! A pretty red, with perfumes of rose, violet, black currant and blackberry. Silky, offering a solid line of dense tannins and a firm finish. Graphite and toasty oak flavors complete the profile. Fine length. - Wine Spectator

94+ Points! The brilliant 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard (another Rutherford site on Bella Oaks Lane) is a blend of 85.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 28 months in barrel. It boasts an opaque purple color, terrific notes of licorice, creme de cassis, charcoal, forest floor, baking spices and earth, as well as a full-bodied mouthfeel with great fruit intensity and purity. This savory, mouthfilling beauty is best drunk over the next 20-25 years. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

95 Points! Very attractive aromas of red cherries, mushrooms and flowers follow through to a medium body with firm and integrated tannins and a vivid, subtle, fruity finish. A lovely young Brunello that you can enjoy now or age for many years to come. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Black cherry and black currant flavors are the main themes in this intense red, with iron and wild herbs adding complexity. Balanced and vibrant, with resonant tannins guarding the long aftertaste. This feels more modern in style, with an emphasis on bright fruit. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo bursts from the glass with a vivid blend of crushed raspberries and cherries, a whiff of allspice and candied rose. It is elegant in feel, silken and smooth with tantalizing acidity and a dominating core of ripe red fruits that adds impact. The finish is grippy and long, potent with fine-grained tannins and a slight citrus tinge that pinches at the cheeks. This classy Brunello is built for the cellar. - Eric Guido, Vinous 

93 Points! Very attractive, juicy wine with so much ripe melon, plus hints of lemon zest and pie crust. Long and elegant with beautifully integrated natural-grape sweetness. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

91-93 Points! The 2021 Irancy Les Cailles is a beautiful wine, busting with fragrant aromas of rose petals, peonies, warm spices and forest floor, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and perfumed palate framed by supple, melting tannins and mouthwatering acids. Spared by the frost, this site can suffer in very hot vintages but clearly thrived in the cooler 2021 vintage.

As I've written before, Thierry Richoux—and now his sons Félix and Gabin—prove that Irancy’s wines can be a revelation. Pioneers of organic farming (and now certified as such), they realize the appellation's potential, limiting their yields, harvesting by hand and maturing their wines for two years—the first year in foudre and tank, the second in smaller oak barrels...Supple, melting and vibrant, with exquisitely floral aromatics, readers who privilege sensuality and perfume over weight and power will want to secure some of the 2021s when they are ultimately released. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2021 Whole Bunch is pure Shiraz and…whole bunch (obvs). The stems are nicely integrated here with black pepper infused black fruit that feels energetic. The palate is medium-bodied with peppery red and black fruit, taut and fresh with a touch of black olive compote on the finish. I love this - surfeit with freshness and vibrancy. Delicious. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

93 Points! The 2021 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is bright, focused and full of energy. Ripe pear, citrus peel, white owers, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks. This mid-weight, crystalline Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is full of character. This is a very strong vintage for the Gainey. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

96–97 Points – James Suckling
“A juicy and fine tannin texture with currant, raspberry and bark aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied and well structured with a caressing finish, all in balance. Very fine and attractive.”

94–96 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Gazin is a fabulous wine. It's deep, rich and powerful but also wonderfully layered in the glass, with real finesse and tons of nuance. Dark red-toned fruit, lavender, mocha, spice and licorice open beautifully. The 2025 impresses with its captivating energy, finely sketched details and sublime balance. Magnificent.”

94–96 Points – Wine Advocate
“Aromas of dark berries, cherries and flowers introduce a medium- to full-bodied, layered and velvety wine with polished tannins and excellent persistence.”

95–97 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, truffles, chocolate, plums, cherries, and licorice provide the aromatics. Concentrated, plush, and polished, there is a fabulous depth of flavor, and juiciness to the fruits, as well as a long, intense sapid finish. Give the wine just a few years to age, and it could be even better. In fact, this is the best wine Gazin has produced in years.”

Bottom Line
A polished, terroir-driven Pomerol with elegance, depth, and excellent aging potential. One of the smarter buys in the appellation.

93 Points! A lush, broad version, with creamed peach and apricot racing alongside heather, bitter almond and green herbs. A salty mineral vein keeps the energy high, with flickers of salted butter and smoke at the end, which shows bitter contrast. Drink now through 2028.- Wine Spectator

93 Points! A co-fermented blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, the 2022 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur evokes a complex, fresh and elegant bouquet of spices, smoke, violets, roses and dark wild berries mingled with a touch of herbs. Medium to full-bodied, tense and juicy, it's elegant, with a discreet tannic frame, good depth at the core and a tense, energetic mid-palate, leading to a long, saline and mouthwatering finish. Fermented with 10% whole bunches and crafted from vines planted in Coteaux de Semmons, Bassenon and from the young vines from Maison Rouge, this classic, well-crafted and stunning Côte-Rôtie was matured in barrels, of which 10% were new. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2023 Fiano is totally captivating, wafting up with vivid sliced apricot complicated by a hint of sour melon and crushed stones. It splashes across the palate, displaying pretty inner sweetness and silken textures, with a peach preserves character that I find wildly attractive. Brisk acidity maintains balance as tropical citrus tones and a nuance of mango linger. Despite this nearly decadent description, the 2023 is incredibly fresh and goes down far too easily. - Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points! Always a highlight of the Giornata range, the 2023 Fiano opens with an expressive bouquet of dried flowers, beeswax, citrus peels and cleansing, herbal flourishes. The palate combines a sappy, broad texture with a gently elastic core, culminating in a taut, poised and layered finish that lingers with remarkable length. A lovely combination of perfumed, lively and powerful, this should be a pleasure to follow through the better part of a decade. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com