ALL REDS <$40

This is also made using the Appassimento method, an ancient Italian tradition of naturally drying the bunches with the resultant raisined grapes producing a greater concentration of flavours and a rich, ripe and luscious wine exuding ripe dark blackberry, brighter blueberry as well as hints of licorice and cherry. This is a classic rendition of Salento Primitivo.98 Points by Luca Maroni; Annuario Dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2021 (Best Italian Wines Annual).  

Wine Advocate 92+. The 2020 Selección comes from a cooler year with enough rain and no stress in the vineyards, when they achieved a medium-bodied red with 14% alcohol and pH of 3.88. It is harmonious, balanced and elegant, with a medium-bodied palate and a velvety mouthfeel through its fine tannins. It reminds me of the classical reds from the zone before excess arrived. Classical Ribera with character, rusticity and elegance. 34,570 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2021. #MAY

This is a good proprietary shiraz, plying peppery spice, a whiff of mint, cardamon and clove along rails of salty freshness. Slinky and fresh without any forfeit of flavour, nor paucity of structure. Just enough in all regards, although very, very marginal. I prefer this to some higher up, at least in lieu of the price. Still, it pushes the envelope of mid-palate astringency. 91 points. Ned Goodwin MW Published 21 March 2023

WINERY NOTES: Blend of Pinot Noir 60% and Barbera 40%, aged in neutral oak barrels for 8-12 months. Rollone is a blend of Barbera and Pinot Noir, grown in our vineyards in Rocchetta Tanaro. The idea of ​​this blend is to create a balanced and harmonious wine that combines the elegance and aromas of Pinot Noir with the structure and depth of Barbera. Rollone is an immediately pleasant wine, versatile in combinations and also perfect as an aperitif wine. Tasting notes Color: intense ruby ​​red. Aromatic Profile: fruity and floral, there are small red fruits, notes of jasmine and gardenia. Development of tertiary aromas with bottle...

Tim Atkin MW 91 points. Gold Medal, Brussels Concours Mondial 2022. Intense cherry colour, garnet rim. Intense aroma of candied fruit, sweet spices perfectly integrated with quality wood, making it elegant. Very tasty in the mouth, powerful and fruity, with ripe tannins. AGEING: 14 months in barrel. 70% French oak and 30% American oak. VARIETY: 100% Tempranillo. SOIL: High zone Altitude 830-950m. Clay- Calcareous soil with limestone. SERVING TEMPERATURE: 14 – 16o C.

First made in 1953 and thought to be named in honour of Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh. Always a major part of the annual Mount Pleasant production (largely contract-grown), and for some years of modest quality and deep discounts. The quantity made these days is far less, most surprising its estate origins and its quality – a classic medium-bodied, finely balanced wine proudly flying the flag for Mount Pleasant and Hunter Valley shiraz. The great vintage was its own reward. 95 points. James Halliday Published 21 February 2023

Wine Advocate 92 points. The 2019 El Andén de la Estación is a new red that takes advantage of the Barrio de la Estación, the train station neighborhood of Haro. It's a Crianza with less extraction, looking for the elegance and finesse of the classical Rioja wines. It's a blend of Tempranillo from their younger vines and Garnacha (that they buy) that matured in French and European barrels for 14 months. It's a quaffable red with lots of Garnacha character (it might represent up to 30% of the blend, by far the highest in Garnacha from the portfolio). It's floral, juicy and expressive, very open and...

JH 90. WINERY NOTE: It all starts with the vineyard, paying careful attention to pruning and the health of the vines. Cool climate vineyards enable the vines to produce rich flavours and characters over a longer growing season. Our Pinots have never been shy in colour and the 2018 vintage is no exception - gorgeous crimson red with a hint of purple. Aromas of cranberry, lavender, violet and herbs. The plate is supple with soft tannins, leading to a long, lingering finish. Closure: Screw Cap Perfect with cold tea smoked duck!

Wine Advocate 91 points. As with many reds from 2017, I was pleasantly surprised by the 2017 Hado, which Carlos San Pedro told me could be a modern version of the 2005 (and 2016, perhaps 2007). It has good ripeness, black rather than red fruit and spicy oak. The palate is still a bit tannic, but this wine will not be released until October 2019, so it will have some time to polish those tannins in bottle. LG June 2019. #22

Wine Advocate 93 points. The biggest volume of the winery is the 2021 Ultreia Saint Jacques, which represents some 170,000 bottles, and according to Raúl Pérez, it's the most difficult wine to make here. They now work a lot to produce this wine, a blend of 11 wines selected from the 17 they made. It's a wine that represents Bierzo and is from a year when they used more grapes from sandy soils. It has 13.16% alcohol and a pH of 3.66; it's serious and restrained but juicy and easy to drink. Seventy percent of the wine matured in barrel and the rest in troncoconic oak vats. LG Aug 2023.

100% Carignan from 80 year old bush vines. These old treasures are on original rootstock. The wine is matured in French barriques for 10 months then aged for a further 6 months in bottle before release. Rich ruby, garnet reflections. Red currants, raspberries and flower honey notes in beautiful interplay with elegant precious wood notes, cedar wood, supplemented by some peppery notes. Gentle start that gradually intensifies, redberry, reminiscent of cranberries and cherries; of good structure and juicy, velvet tannins; powerful and extremely aromatic to the characterful finale, which is accompanied by tobacco notes and smoke notes. Kanai is...

Veronelli 91 points. WINERY NOTE: The wine is produced with typical grapes selected in the Venetian area: Corvina comes from the morainic hills of Valpolicella, Raboso comes from Oderzo (Treviso), and Refosco is selected in the Aquileia area. This wine is produced with a traditional Veronese technique: the drying of the grapes. In reality it is a partial drying: the grapes placed in the loft for about a month lose about 8-10% of their initial weight. In this way they are enriched in sugars, increase the dry extract, the ashes and the color of the wine. Wine with good tannic structure, in balance with alcohol, which gives it roundness: the...

James Halliday 95 points. The flavours pop up like the plastic clowns at the Easter Show, either to be shot or stunned and lie flat at the end of the moving belt. There is a persistent tune with spicy/savoury/preserve flavours that works very well for me, even if left field. Drink to: 2035; Date Tasted: Sept 2019; Alcohol: 14.5%; Rating: 95 Points & Special Value Star; James Halliday Wine Companion. The Barossa Valley vineyard landscape is remarkably diverse. Fortunate to have mates growing grapes all over this place, I’m able to make different wines showcasing many faces of Barossa Valley Shiraz. The Bilmore Shiraz is sourced...

James Suckling 90 points. “Intense cherry red covered with black fruit aromas, meaty in the mouth balanced with tender tannins Chocolate and coffee notes, persistent and clean finish. Oxygenation is required". GRAPE VARIETIES 100% Tempranillo. Manual harvesting from our bunch vineyards with vines older than 28 years old average alcoholic fermentation in tanks of 200 Hl with a controlled temperature Aged during 18 months in French and American oak We kept a minimum of 9 months in bottle before to release to the market-

Organic, soft, supple and Central Otago delicious– everything you want in a Pinot Noir. Awesome value and just the ticket when needing something new and special. Grapes from our Estate vineyards, destemmed, wild yeasts, French oak, no fining nor filtration. Artwork by Callum Robertson.  

Gold Medal, San Francisco International Wine Competition, November 2022. Wine Spectator 90 points."...Roasted herb and saline notes add some complexity to the lush pear, peach and citrus flavors. Shows terrific intensity on the finish, where a hint of matcha green tea comes in.” Winery Note: Aroma: Berry aromas with subtle spice and well-integrated oak. Palate: Fruit-driven; bright red berry flavors. Smooth, fine-grain tannins and excellent structure and balance. This vintage is fragrant and very typical of Marlborough. Following traditional plunging of the skins during fermentation for flavor and tannin, the wine was aged in a...

Wine Advocate 92 points. This is a blend of 85% Garnacha Tintorera and 15% Monastrell from dry-farmed, head-pruned vines that are planted on limestone soils and average 45 years of age. It fermented in open-top stainless steel vats with neutral yeasts and matured in French oak barrels for one year. This feels harmonious and integrated, still young and a little creamy, but it was only bottled one month before I tasted it. There's more freshness and balance here, the 2020 is the most harmonious of the three vintages I tasted side by side. 54,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2022.  

Falstaff Magazine 92 points. James Suckling 92 points "A medium-bodied, vibrant red with blueberries, cherry stones, lemon zest and dried herbs on the nose. Lightly dusty tannins. Well balanced, with a mineral touch. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold." Wine Advocate 92 points. The entry-level Brancaia 2020 Chianti Classico (100% organic Sangiovese with 40,000 bottles released) is teeming with energy and life thanks to bright cherry, cassis and floral aromas. The wine feels clean and polished on the palate, with mid-weight intensity and balanced freshness. Certified Organic. WINERY NOTE: CHIANTI CLASSICO is a tribute...

Vinous Media 92 points. Rosso di Montalcino Capanna is the simplest and most immediate version of the great Brunello di Montalcino. Like Brunello, it is made from pure Sangiovese grapes, a fresh and elegant expression of Montalcino red wine. Capanna is a real reference point for the wines of this area, and produces this Rosso di Montalcino that ferments in Slavonian barrels at a controlled temperature with maceration on the skins for three weeks. It then matures in Slavonian barrels for about 6-10 months, followed by another 3-4 months in the bottle before release. This Tuscan red wine has an intense ruby red colour, while the nose offers...

TYPE: DOC BLEND: 60% Merlot - 40% Sangiovese VINIFICATION: Alcoholic fermentation - separated by variety - with maceration of the skins (about 20-25 days) at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks; spontaneous malolactic fermentation. AGEING: In Slavonian oak casks of 20 to 32 hl for at least 6-8 months; followed by ageing in bottles for a few months. ON SALE FROM: 12-15 months from the harvest. NOTES: Colour: deep ruby red, very strong. Bouquet: intense, of mature red fruits and liquorice. Taste: excellent structure, quite soft, well balanced. Food pairings: roasted red and white meats, cold cuts and slightly aged cheeses.

Gold Medal Challenge International Du Vin 2018 France. Gold Medal, Mundus Vini 2018. Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Tempranillo 15% from 35 year old vines. Aging is done in oak barriques for around 30 months, giving a fine structure and complex aromas. Later, the wine is aged in bottle for 5 years giving a unique bouquet. Needs time to open in the glass, complex aromas of liquorice, leather and spices, high intensity. On the palate it is well balanced, powerful and delicate, extraordinary quality and fresh afterpalate.

James Suckling 93 points. I like the smoked-meat, bark and berry aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Tangy and delicious. Hints of burnt orange at the end. Fresh meat, too. Tempranillo. Vegan. Drink now. JS. Cune Reserva is a blend of the varieties Tempranillo (85%) and Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo (15% between the 3) The grape from Cune Reserva are from vineyards that are situated in the La Rioja Alta. The harvest is carried out manually with the utmost care. In the winery, Cune Reserva goes through fermentation that lasts for 10 days. After which, the wine is then subjected to...

Tim Atkin MW 93 points. 4 stars Platter. This wine has notes of red and black berry fruit, white pepper and spice. The palate is finely structured, showing an array of ripe fruit and floral undertones, with a lingering aftertaste. Winemaker: Carl van der Merwe Varietal blend: 44% Grenache Noir 29% Mourvédre 21% Syrah 6% Petite Syrah #2017D

96 Points Winemag Bordeaux Blend Report 2021. Best Bordeaux Blend & Best Red Overall Winemag 2021. This wine has notes of cassis with rich, red fruit, dried herbs, perfume and plums on the nose. The palate is soft and silky with integrated flavours of cigar box and black fruit. Winemaker: Carl van der Merwe Varietal blend: 36% Merlot 35% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% Cabernet Franc 10% Petit Verdot 5% Malbec Appellation: Stellenbosch.

93 points Sam Kim "Delightfully fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows dark cherry, raspberry, thyme, toasted nut and subtle mushroom characters. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and roundness, wonderfully supported by silky texture and fine-grained tannins, finishing persistent and very tasty." (4/2020) 91 points Bob Campbell MW "Supple, savoury Pinot Noir with dried herb, floral, violet, spice, cherry and raspberry flavours. An appealing wine in a medium-bodied style, with a backbone of bright acidity." (8/2020)

Wine Advocate 92 points. The young red 2021 Vino Tinto is one of the first 2021 reds from Galicia that I taste from bottle. 2021 is supposed to be a return to the conditions of the vintages from yesteryear—cooler and with less ripeness, lower alcohol and more acidity but also viticultural challenges. This is always a sure value, and it is mostly Mencía with some 15% other local reds (Brancellao, Merenzao, Garnacha Tintorera, Mouratón, Negreda, Sousón, Caíño...) sourced from old vineyards. It is young and fermented in stainless steel and was kept in contact with the lees for four to eight months before...

BEST VALUE ITALIAN RED, VERONELLI GUIDE 2019. (2017 and 2019 vintage) TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE WORLD, WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE.    James Suckling 93 points. This wine does not see appassimento, but like all Ripasso, the Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore I Progni is refermented on the air-dried skins left over from Amarone. Ripasso is an ancient wine making technique used for centuries in Valpolicella, the second fermentation is on the sweet, locally dried grapes. Made with grapes sourced from a single vineyard in Valpolicella Classica, called I Progni. The blend is 70% Corvina and Corvinone, with 30% Rondinella and...

The toasty vanillin oak makes a statement on the nose, however the fruit that rises from the depths has power, intensity and concentration. These things suggest that in time all will come together. The acidity is interesting, very bright for a wine so ripe. Smart, age-worthy cabernet. 92 points. Erin Larkin Published 16 June 2022   The Lynn family have been residents of the Penola - Coonawarra district for over four generations, starting out as Store-Keepers and then graduating into grazing. The property on which Majella now stands was originally owned by Frank Lynn and bought by his nephew, George, in 1960 for Merino wool production....

Campbell Mattison for James Halliday's Wine Companion: 93 points. This perennially consistent shiraz displays a dark damson red colour with a bright garnet haze. The red wine exudes ripe red fruit and vanillin aromas. The juicy palate contains cherry and raspberry characters with hints of cinnamon, clove and black pepper. Velvety tannins combine with these flavours to culminate in a long finish.

Cellar Door 50aud. It was 1990 when Jeff Burch crossed paths with Pascal Marchand in the cellars of Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard. A fast friendship quickly formed, with passion for Pinot Noir as its foundation. A decade later they embraced the possibilities of a unique collaboration, and began the Marchand & Burch Collection. Since 2007 Marchand & Burch has grown to represent a sophisticated expression of terroir through fine wines produced in Western Australia’s Great Southern region and the Côte d’Or in Burgundy, France. Three decades on, the friendship endures while the wines tell an exciting, evolving story....

Dry-grown primitivo from southern Moppa, hand picked with 30% whole clusters in the wild ferments. Deep purple-red colour, with aromas of deep dark plum and black fruits sheathed in purple floral notes, souk-like spice and dark chocolate. Plenty of dark fruit horsepower on the palate, with a bright, spicy line and kinetic, sandy tannin and support on the rich finish. 91 points. Dave Brookes Published 17 January 2022     Grape Variety: Primitivo (a.k.a. Zinfandel) Every Wednesday evening as the sun was setting, my family used to walk a well worn path across an empty paddock behind our house to our friends house for dinner. One night...

WINERY NOTE: Gamay, the way forward when you want something uncomplicated, refreshing, delicious and red -THE summer red for sure. Gamay is the hallmark variety of Beaujolais, at its best making wines with the ability to age, equally though amazing when young, especially from younger vines. Ours is pure fruit, delicious acidity, with just enough structure and weight to make it serious fun. Serve chilled or at room temperature, this is designed to drink now. Note: – this wine has minimal sulphites, unfined, unfiltered – store it cool, drink it young and don’t worry about a thing. Certified Organic –Muirkirk Vineyard,...

This is a new face, the blend proportions not stated, hand picked and co-fermented before 10 days on skins in tank then six months maturation in old puncheons. It's been very well made, a bright and juicy medium-bodied, fruit-driven wine, red fruits to the fore, ready now. 90 points. James Halliday Published 29 July 2023.   Hand picked and destemmed  to tank for a short cold soak.   Inoculated for a warm ferment of around 10 days with pumping over three times daily.    Pressed at dryness to old barrels for MLF before being racked to tank for blending which occurred in October after 6 months in wood....

Top Ten Best Selling Wines - December 2022 Under $60 A perfumed nose of dark cherry, plum, coconut, cedar and dried thyme. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. Rich and structured with a chalky texture and a firm, delicious finish. Better from 2022. 92 Points James Suckling. #TOP

The grapes for this Barbera d'Alba are harvested on southwest-facing slopes, where the soil consists mainly of small stones and lime. The fragrance is filled with ripe blackberries, dark red strawberries and summer dusty blueberries. The berries are prevalent again on the palate along with some Finnish sweet licorice and vanilla aromas. Medium bodied with firm structure.

Winery COLOR: Ruby red with violet highlights. NOSE: Intense bouquet of ripe fruits with notes of currants, blackberries and black cherries. FLAVOR: The flavor is balanced with smooth, sweet tannins and a persistent finish. SOMMELIER'S DESCRIPTION The peculiarities of Dogliani Siri d'Jermu are essentially summarized by the close relation that the family Pecchenino enjoyed for centuries with Dogliani in the Langhe area, famous for its cultivation of this native vine. The farm Pecchenino was founded towards the end of '700: it has always been a family-run estate and have been handed down from father to son, being enriched, with the...

Vinous Media 93 points. Created in honour of the ‘butteri’, who remain the symbol of the Maremma region, strong and elegant at the same time. The Ornello (from the name of the wood – manna ash), is a long, pointed stick that is still used today for driving cattle. It stands out for its substantial percentage of Syrah grapes that make it very full and rich, nonetheless retaining the typical elegance and freshness of Rocca di Frassinello wines. Intense ruby red. On the nose it has balsamic and roasted coffee notes. On the palate there are notes of woody undergrowth and soft, velvety tannins.

Wine Advocate 91 points. The entry-level red is the 2019 Románico, produced with Tinta de Toro (a.k.a. Tempranillo) from younger vines (10 to 25 or 30 years old, some of them grafted) in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. It fermented in a traditional way, foot trodden and with soft pumping overs, with indigenous yeasts selected from their own vineyards and matured in used French oak barrels for an average of six to eight months, as some wine is kept in stainless steel and other lots are aged in barrel for longer. This is primary and fruit-driven (black fruit), with purity and something floral; it's juicy and tender, with ripe,...

Tim Atkin 92 points. The John X Merriman is Rustenberg’s Estate wine, a blend of Bordeaux varietals that illustrate the ageability and true expression of Rustenberg’s finest vineyards. The John X Merriman is a powerful wine that rewards aging. In its youth the wine is worth decanting and expresses cassis, black currant and dark fruits complemented with cigar tobacco and sour cherry notes. As the wine ages and its fine grained tannins soften a softer more savoury palate develops revealing wonderful drinkability and tertiary complexity.

James Suckling 92 points. 1 Sep, 2022 – Focused and savory with fine, roasted Mediterranean herbs to the sweet strawberries, dried flowers, black raspberries and red dates. Pretty full-bodied with a dense palate, showing juicy yet elegant red berries. Drink or hold. WINERY NOTE: Sulcis 100% Carignano DOC Reserve. An extraordinarily complex wine made entirely from original rootstock 80 year old bush vines. 12 months refinement in French barriques then a further 12 months in bottle before release. This word in Sardinian language literally means”the sands” that is the soil where Carignano is cultivated in ungrafted vineyards...

Tim Atkin MW 91 points. “Intense red colour with garnet edge Complex aroma, red fruits, wild herbs Roasted notes of coffee, black chocolate. Fresh, fruity, fleshy, tasty, round, complex, balanced, long and persistent in the mouth". Tempranillo 100%. From a selection of the Tempranillo harvested at optimal health and maturation in small 15 kg boxes. In the winery, a manual selection of bunches and destemming occurs and crushing without pressure. Produced by malolactic fermentation in the barrel and then an aging of 14 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% of which are 12 months old.

"50% grenache, 30% mataro and 20% shiraz from 25-76yo vines, wild yeast-open fermented with 10% whole bunches, 14 days on skins, daily plunging and pumpovers, 500 dozen made. Beautifully and harmoniously structured and textured, clarity and purity its watchwords." James Halliday 96/100, Aug 2020 This is the second style of wine to be produced under the ‘HEAD RED’ range and like the ‘HEAD RED’ Shiraz is essentially a barrel de-classification. Always picked on the cusp of ripeness with some whole-bunches retained for the fermentation which is more of an infusion than an extraction. The fruit here is sourced...

Decanter Magazine....Top 10 Wines of Australia 2020. “Renowned for producing fine wines in Jerez, Pedro Ximènez (or PX) can really excel in other part of the world. Intense marmalade aromas with some sweet spice and dried figs. The palate is lusciously rich with some pure marmalade and dried figs characters, very long, sweet and rich finish but with a good freshness.” Decanter, Top 10 Australian Wines. This fortified Pedro Ximénez was made from grapes grown specifically for us by a number of traditional Barossa grape growers. Pedro Ximénez are amongst the last grape varieties to be harvested each vintage in...

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is today the only DOCG of Sicily. A wine of remarkable personality obtained from the red vinification of the Frappato(40%) and Nero d'Avola grapes (60%). Very intense and persistent bouquet that reminds one of ripe pomegranate. Cherry-red in color, warm and full-bodied in the mouth. Endorsed by Vittoria Gianbattista Valli.   Deep red cherry colour with a very intense and persistent aroma reminiscent of ripe pomegranate. In the mouth, the wine is warm and full bodied.  

Wine Specytator 91 points.   A last minute disagreement with Valentino has resulted in the merlot being released without the designers name. Merlot loves sunshine and Sicilian merlot delivers the love. It is lush, plush, chewy and delectable. Think Sofia Loren rather than Kate Moss. Lots of cherry, plums and exotic spice.  Produced from one of the first vineyards planted on the Feudi del Pisciotto estates. A Merlot that expresses the full potential and character of this grape variety, which finds an ideal form of expression in Sicily’s terroir. Wine characterised by an important structure and power, while at the same time...

Justin's tasting note: "An elegant wine with a character all of its own! Bright, vivid, red colour. Intense and fruity nose where notes of wet undergrowth and wild nature can be detected. Fleshy and well structured on the palate. A little chunky in its youth, it becomes rounder and delicious to drink as it gets older. Very flavourful aftertaste." This red wine is produced on the Aubuzes climat in Maranges on the edge of the Santenay vineyard. The name of the place is a local variant of "Aubues" from the Gallic word "albucre" which means a whitish clay soil. Here the soil is rich and clayey, covered with...

"Bright, ripe cherry red. Intense and complex in aromas. Aromas of ripe red fruit, enveloped in white flowers, almond blossom and broom. Touches of cinnamon and resinous notes. Velvety on the attack, smooth and delicate. It is elegant, balanced and harmonious on the palate. A long finish, leaving a pleasant aftertaste." -  Bodegas Lan This wine is intense garnet in colour. Aromas of juicy strawberries, cherries and blackberries are married with notes of vanilla and spices from oak ageing and subtle earthy hints from bottle age. The palate is exceptionally well-structured, with velvety tannins and a vibrant acidity which...