The 2020 Saumur Champigny is super succulent and already welcoming despite its release date being almost a year away from tasting. What's good about this is its elegance and balance despite the warmth of the vintage...

This 11.4-acre parcel sustains some of the domaine’s oldest vines, planted in 1962 and ’76 on a gravelly terrace over a limestone slope along the bank of the Vienne River. They produce a wine that seems to explode with...

This youthful Loire red has a touch of funk on the nose that slowly dissipates with aeration to reveal a wealth of red-berry fruit and some wild herbs. On the fresh, medium-bodied palate there’s plenty of depth and some...

A glorious iteration of the superb Clos de l’Echelier cuvée, coming from a 2.5ha vineyard of 40-year-old Cabernet Franc surrounded by a 300-year-old wall. Having implemented organic farming in the 1990s, and biodynamic...

As difficult as it is to pick a winner between the Gualtallary and El Cepillo bottlings, the 2021 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard gets my nod as the supreme example of the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Cabernet...

The 2020 Le Bourg is a baby. This is not due to be released until March 2026 and you can see why: it is far too young. The 2020 provides the flavor of a big wine, but it's not a big wine, remaining just short of...

A single vineyard in the city of Chinon is the source for this wine. Wholly owned by this producer, the vineyard has produced an intensely perfumed wine, showing the potential of the vineyard and of ripe Cabernet Franc...

The 2018 Chinon Clos du Chene Vert, Monopole is one of the top wines from Joguet, offering pure black fruit and even some mint chocolate aromas, in addition to the telltale signs of classy oak use evident in its rich...

The 2019 Clos du Chêne Vert Monopole has purity, freshness and precision. It is not as upright as it was more than a year ago when last tasted, as it has since opened up, broadened and lost its youthful rawness. That...

Juicy, with a light briary spine cutting through the mix of cherry, currant and plum fruit flavors. Notes of singed spice and black tea show on the slightly toasted finish. Best from 2018 through 2023. 60 cases imported.

The 2019 Les Varennes du Grand Clos is starting to mellow with an extra year in bottle since I last tasted. It continues to have its soft, welcoming opening, with attractive, pure aromatics: plenty of sweet black fruit...

The 2020 Les Poyeux elegantly fills the mouth like an arch. It's not a big wine despite the warmth of the year, nor is it warm. This is serious and not overdone. It’s supple, ripe and gentle with some savory earthiness...

In the middle of the city of Chinon with one of the best views of the fortress, the 2019 Clos de l'Echo provides a focused and compact core of Cabernet fruit. From the warm and dry 2019 season, there's plentiful ripeness...

From one of the appellation's most historic vineyards to the east of the city of Chinon, the 2019 Clos de l'Olive offers a wonderfully rich fragrance and an almost creamy mid palate. While it feels a little closed right...

There are so much essence-like fruits on the nose of this Bolgheri Rosso, from blackberry perfume and dark-cherry compote to fresher elements of rosemary, lavender, hot stones and citrus. Full body with generous fruit...

Le Macchiole's iconic Paleo has evolved from a Bordeaux-style blend into a unique single-variety expression of Tuscany's coastline. This pioneering 100% Cabernet Franc is sourced from three estate vineyards and ferments...