Vinous (97)

The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.

James Suckling (97)

Extremely floral with sage and licorice to the berry and dark cherry aromas that follow through to a medium body, with fine and silky tannins that run the length of the wine. Very crunchy for Flaccianello. Vivid on the palate. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2025.

Wine Advocate (98)

The Fontodi 2021 Flaccianello della Pieve opens to a medium-dark inky appearance and solid aromas of black fruit and pressed blackberry. The Flaccianello is a touch more accessible at this early stage compared to the Vigna del Sorbo, but both wines are undoubtedly built to withstand ample cellar aging. Flaccianello is the more powerful or the two, and the Vigna del Sorbo is more delicate in comparison. These dueling character traits are especially evident in this classic 2021 vintage. This wine also boasts a more generous mouthfeel supported by softly integrated tannins.

Burghound (93)

(from Les Baudes Basses). Like the Vosne-Romanée “Petits Monts”, there is a hint of mocha to the ripe plum, red berry earth and moderate wood-suffused nose. The rich, full-bodied and powerful flavors possess good if not special mid-palate density as well as solid energy that carries over to the youthfully austere, firm and built-to-age finale that exhibits lovely balance. This is also quite good and a wine that should amply repay extended keeping.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)

Deep crimson colour. A very lively fruit here, all in red berries. Good tension here, a few drops of a darker fruit but this remains mostly in a bright red profile, fresh but not firm tannins and very good length. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted Dec 2024.

Burghound (93)

(from the climats of Les Treux and Clos St. Denis). This is also trimmed in enough wood to notice on the beautifully layered nose of both red and dark currant, exotic tea, spice and floral wisps. The exceptionally rich and nicely textured medium weight plus flavors are shaped by dense but fine tannins on the mouthcoating and lingering finish where the only nit is a touch of warmth. This too offers excellent development potential and it’s just as well because it definitely needs to add depth with time in bottle.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-97)

A more energetic ruby crimson, with a sweeter perfumed fruit. Flowers and raspberries. Delicious energy throughout and light on its feet. Maybe less immediately striking than Gaudichots but I think it is the finer of the two. I love the aftertaste. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted Dec 2024.

Burghound (91)

(from vines planted between 1937 and 1942). This is also attractively floral in character with its nose of red and dark currant and more obvious earth influence that is also trimmed in moderate wood. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the fleshy yet nicely detailed medium-bodied flavors that flash evident minerality on the dusty and youthfully austere finale where the supporting tannic spine is even finer. This is quite good with fine development potential yet it should also drink reasonably well young.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

A little more depth of colour, crimson ruby. Dark cherry and plum, with some concentration while remaining accessible. Exemplary for this middle section of Nuits, with ripe tannins, good length. Drink from 2031-2037. Tasted Dec 2024.

Indulge in the enduring elegance of Forey Pere & Fils Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2017. Birthed from the exquisite vineyards in the heart of Burgundy, this distinct, mature red wine manifests an intimate interpretation of the Les Gaudichots terroir. Mastery is portrayed in every sip, revealing deep and resonant flavours of dark fruits, mingling with earthy undertones, and supported by subtle yet structured tannins.

Forey Pere & Fils, established in 1860, is renowned for striking balance between traditional and modern Burgundy winemaking techniques. Each grape is hand-harvested and fermented in oak barrels to preserve the nuanced characters imparted by the vineyard. The 2017 vintage stands testament to the finesse of this celebrated producer.

Experience the harmonious marriage between power and elegance in the Forey Pere & Fils Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2017–a true homage to Burgundy’s legendary viticultural heritage.

Introducing an exceptional bottle from the esteemed winemakers Forey Père & Fils - the Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2021. Handcrafted in Forey’s notable vineyard in Burgundy, France, it’s a wine regarded for its deep, concentrated purity of fruit. The wine encapsulates Forey's experience gained since 1840, reflecting their dedication to sustainable viticulture. The rich, Bourgogne soil, composed of clay and limestone, imbues the wine with a distinct terroir-driven taste profile.

The Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2021 is aged in French oak barrels, lending a nuanced balance of texture and structure. Its bouquet radiates wild strawberry and Morello cherry, underpinned by subtle woodsy undertones. The palate is impressively long and silky, with vibrant acidity that scapegoats through the layers of lush red fruit. The Forey Pere & Fils Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2021 is a nuanced expression of Burgundy, perfect for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Bright purple. So sensual on the nose, a dark fruit still with redder highlights, bursting with energy some fresh red and energised black berry fruit highlights, few tannins though there is a sense of structure and great length. Drink from 2031-2038. Tasted Dec 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck (93)

Blackcurrants, roasted herbs, licorice, and some jus de viande-like aromas and flavors all emerge from the 2021 The Diplomat, a slightly more Merlot-dominated blend that includes 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, has integrated acidity, and fine tannins. Drink this beauty over the coming 10-12 years.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon The Warrior is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, coming from a single vineyard. Deep garnet-black colored, it gallops out of the glass with bold notes of crème de cassis, black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, pencil lead, tilled soil and tar, with wafts of cumin seed and menthol. Full-bodied, the palate is taut and muscular, featuring firm, grainy tannins supporting the layers of tightly wound, impactful and wonderfully pure black fruits, finishing with an impressive display of mineral sparks.

Experience the distinctive taste of Fortunate Son The Warrior 2019, exquisite wine crafted in the renowned vineyards of Sonoma County, California. This bold red blend exhibits a smooth, harmonious composition of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre grape varieties, matured splendidly in a balanced climate of cool nights and warm days.

Employing a traditional fermentation process in stainless steel vats with gentle pump-overs, the Warrior 2019 demonstrates the Fortunate Son winery's commitment to preserving the integrity and characteristics of each varietal. Aged in French oak barrels, this grand cuvée unveils intricate layers of blackberry, cassis and anise, underscored by notes of mocha and subtle earthiness.

Fortunate Son The Warrior 2019 encapsulates the unwavering dedication of its producers to quality and complexity. A testament of excellence, it seamlessly melds time-honoured techniques and modern innovation, making this full-bodied wine a precious addition to any well-curated collection.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Village has a flattering bouquet with violet and peony tinged black cherry fruit, well-defined and focused. The oak here is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, quite granular in texture with a brisk, saline finish. Give this 2-4 years in bottle and it should turn into a fine Chambolle that will be hard to resist in its flush of youth.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Three casks from three different spots. Slightly cloudy cherry red. Really rich and solid. From a very good producer (a long-term proposition) and made in the domaine philosophy. Lots of tannin on the end. Very energetic. Very slightly bitter on the end.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a decadent bouquet of red cherry and cranberry aromas, touches of pain d’épices and a hint of menthol emerging with time. But somehow it manages to retain control. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, slightly chalky tannins, good depth and a gentle grip toward the focused finish. This should age extremely well.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (96)

Medium deep crimson purple. A very floral bouquet, on first impression perhaps this Clos St-Jacques could use more precision. Sensual and succulent, dark raspberry and blackberry, the suggestion of stems (were some added back in?) add a little structure which is probably necessary as the tannins and acidity are not otherwise pronounced. Still a wine which will give great pleasure. Now I can find the precision at the back, allied to the charm. Drink from 2028.

Vinous (92+)

Healthy medium red. Slightly stunted but pure aromas of red berries and black cherry are less exuberant than those of the Champeaux. Also more restrained and tightly wound in the mouth, but with vibrant acidity and a sensation of peppery grip giving the wine terrific inner-mouth energy. Classic 2013 in its tautness and cut. Finishes ripely tannic and long; this should be a beauty with mid-term cellaring.

Vinous (90-92)

Good deep red. Reduced nose dominated by smoked meat. Then deep, ripe and aromatic in the mouth, with a blackberry flavor complicated by a gamey nuance. Concentrated, fine-grained and sappy, conveying a glyceral impression. Finishes quite suave and expressive, with broad, fine tannins and lovely lingering perfume.

Wine Advocate (92)

The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes is excellent, unfurling in the glass with a complex bouquet of dark chocolate, cassis, wild berries and plums. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of crunchy fruit, fine structuring tannins and a long, sapid finish. While this is very elegant in style this year, it has more than enough substance to evolve in bottle for two decades or more.

Vinous (91)

Moderately saturated medium red. Complex nose melds strawberry, flowers, game and mocha. Deeper than the Morey-Saint-Denis Clos Solon; brisk, salty and concentrated, offering considerable personality and sex appeal. This very sappy village wine shows excellent clarity and length, finishing with harmonious tannins.

Emanating from the botanical grandeur of Italy's northern Piedmont region, the exquisite Francesco Brigatti, Colline Novaresi, Motziflon Nebbiolo 2017 is a testament to masterful viticulture. This delicate Nebbiolo - named 'Motziflon' for its common vernacular meaning 'small fire' - is grown on hillsides blessed with pebbly alluvial soils and a temperate climate, which fosters a unique complexity and intensity in the wine. Crafted meticulously by the skilled artisan Francesco Brigatti, a practitioner revered for his dedication to sustainable production and meticulous, low-yield cultivation, this offering is an authentic embodiment of tradition and precision.

Abundant in red fruit flavours with layers of wild herbs and hints of violet in the bouquet, this medium-bodied Nebbiolo provides a lingering finish teeming with subtle spice notes and sensations of fine-grained tannins. An exemplary display of utmost craftsmanship and terroir expression, Francesco Brigatti, Colline Novaresi, Motziflon Nebbiolo 2017 is ideal for those seeking the quintessence of Italian wine culture.

The Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 is a remarkable superb Italian red wine, crafted with an artisanal touch in the renowned region of Piedmont. Produced by third-generation winemaker Francesco Brigatti and mature in oak barrels for 36 months, this wine is testament to his time-honoured winemaking techniques.

The Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco is a Nebbiolo-dominant blend, exhibiting refined layers of red fruit, nuanced by hints of spice and a toasted earthiness. This fine wine stands as a celebration of the terroir's granite soil, gentle undulations and temperate micro-climate. Its beautiful balance of acidity and tannins contribute to a long, pleasurable finish.

As a limited production wine, each bottle of Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 embodies the passion of the vintner and the spirit of the locality, making it a perfect choice for discerning collectors and connoisseurs of fine Italian wines.

Vinous (95+)

The 2015 Barolo Cannubi Riserva is a total stunner. In fact, it is one of the very best Barolos I have ever tasted from the Rinaldi family. Dark yet translucent, with remarkable depth, the Riserva is a total thrill from the very first taste. Lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and mocha give the Cannubi its distinctly dark, sepia-toned personality. The 2015 needs time, but it is compelling, to say the least. Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee.