Wines

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

This comes from two adjacent villages parcels immediately NNW of the village: Petites Nosroyes and Nosroyes. In size, Gaëlle's parcels are 14 and 9 ares respectively. One hundred ares equals a hectare; in acreage, the total of these two parcels is 0.56 acre. So, essentially a half acre of Chardonnay vines that are around 60 years of age. These parcels border the premier cru band and lie just under the Puligny 1er Cru Les Perrières.

From the winery: Our 2021 Pickberry Merlot comes from the firm, clay-based soils, about 600' up the northern slopes of Sonoma Mountain. Mother Nature pushed ripeness faster on us than in previous years, trading out lighter herbaceous notes of previous vintages for a focused fruit profile. The wines massive structure coupled with Pickberry's signature blue fruit and intense menthol notes is just right on.

Great value here from the famous Bedrock Vineyard (Shhh....)! From the winery: A punchy, spicy blend of zinfandel (80%), barbera (15%) and Alicante Bouschet (5%). The Zinfandel and Alicante were sourced from the Bedrock Vineyard in Sonoma. The fruit was from adjacent blocks so we picked both on the same day, co-fermenting them together. Traditionally this fruit has always been the base for our red table wine. We then blended in a few barrels of Barbera to level up the acidity and aromatics.

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

97 Points! Lavender and sage with berries and dried strawberries, but so perfumed and subtle. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins that are totally integrated with finesse and beauty at the end. Caresses your palate. - JamesSuckling.com  

96 Points! The 2020 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a classy, polished wine. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, new leather, licorice and lavender all take shape. As always, Costa Russi is the most supple and charming of the Gaja Barbarescos in the early going. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

95 Points! The Gaja 2020 Barbaresco Costa Russi has a rose and floral note that emerges at first, and it doesn't have the heavy dark earth or cured leather aromas that we get in the Barbaresco. This wine is focused on fruit tones, bright ones, and those nuances are juicy, generous and long. There's more youth in this wine, and the tannins are extremely fine and silky. Count on this wine to improve with age. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

A ridiculously good value-priced blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from the Gamble Family Estate in the heart of the Napa Valley!

The (Gamble Family) Mill Keeper White Wine Napa Valley 2021 is a blend of fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc and round, fruity Chardonnay. As some of you may recall from these pages before, the Gamble Family Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best in the valley. But did you know that Gamble’s Chardonnay fruit is the foundation of the Beringer Reserve Chardonnay program? Crazy, right?

Together, that blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay aged in 21% new French Oak for 10 months delivers an easier, rounder hypothetical mash-up of those two wines. The Sauvignon gives vibrancy and focus, and the Chardonnay provides an ample middle. What a ‘white wine’ for the money!

91 Points! Saline and fresh, with aromas of oyster shells and lemon zest. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, tight and tensile, driven by vibrant acidity and finishing with a pleasant saline twist. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Capacious notes of spiced blueberry compote, red florals and a squidge of balsamic; full of juicy tension and verve with a persuasive freshness that lingers. - Decanter World Wine Awards

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